A little book of gratitude

 
Hello ! My final post (I think!) of 2021 and it's a mini book on the current PaperArtsy blog theme of Journaling Gratitude. Lots of details over at PaperArtsy as usual.

Nikki xx

Blizzard fold mini book, with new PaperArtsy paints!

 
Hi all - today I am over at PaperArtsy with this little mini book featuring fab new PaperArtsy paints and stamps! Woo hoo... there is a video too...

Nikki x

Booking binding Seth Apter style for PaperArtsy

Hi everyone. I am over at PaperArtsy this evening with a book using Seth Apter stamps and  PaperArtsy paints. For more details and pics visit the PA blog - if not here is a little video!

Nikki xx

Eileen Hull Tiny Book with PaperArtsy Stamps and Paints

Hi everyone - tonight it's a redirect post over to the PaperArtsy blog where I am sharing this Tiny Book made from recycled packaging (Eileen Hull die) using PaperArtsy Paints and stamps.

Nikki

xxx

Books and more books!

Hi everyone. Just a quick post to share the bookcase and books I made for Lisa Horton's show on Create and Craft last week. I am sharing more details on one of these over on Lisa's blog this evening too. Here is a sneak peak!

Nikki xxx

Eileen Hull Notebook for AVJ

Happy New Year!

We begin 2020 with the theme 'We are all getting older'! at A Vintage Journey. Well that is true !

Time for weathering and distressing, or some ageing and antiqueing. Make a project using techniques for making the new look old, whether that's paper projects, altered art or mixed media. Just remember to ensure that you create in one of our preferred styles of vintage, shabby,mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk.

I have created a vintage notebook using Eileen Hull's notebook die. I began with the die cut book and covered in some Tim Holtz paper and added washi tape to help reinforce the spine. I started with washes of gesso to tone down the paper before stencilling, stamping and splattering to finish the cover.

I used distress paints to alter the little butterflies, corner pieces and letters.

The inside was simply done with a little paint and stamping before the signature was secured with some outer pages.

I cheated a little with my pages - using a stapler to create the signatures - which I then secured together with some calico down the spine.

Do head on over to A Vintage Journey where the lovely and talented Alison Bomber is our host for this challenge. There is lots of ideas to get you inspired if you would like to join the challenge.

Nikki

Paint and Patterns for PaperArtsy

There is colour, paint, patterns and quotes tonight for my latest project for PaperArtsy.... head on over to see more.

Nikki xxx

Mini Books and Tissue stamping

Hi everyone. Just a brief post to redirect you over to PaperArtsy this evening - where I am tissue stamping!

Nikki

xxx

Oval Shaped Note book and Gift Box

Hello! Today I am sharing my design for the Inspiration post for the Craft Stamper - Take it Make it Challenge. As always the theme is anything goes - as long as you include some stamping. The prize this month for the lucky random winner is a set of 10 Ecoline Brush pens and as usual the design team favourite gets their design published in the magazine!

I few weeks ago I took part in a swap with the lovely people from Let's Be Creative. Our theme was to make something oval for our swap partner so I challenged myself to make this Oval Mini Book. As it was going to my partner I also make a little gift box.

I used Tim Holtz Ornate Frame Bigz die to cut the oval shape (ie the centre of the frame); from greyboard for the covers and also the pages inside. I created a crackled cover, added some stamping and some splatters. All paints are PaperArtsy. My flowers and leaves are die cuts from Tim Holtz Mini Tattered Florals.

On the back I added the initials of my gift recipient:

I would like to play along with the Mini Album Makers Challenge for September

See you next time

Nikki x

More mini books....PaperArtsy

This evening (if you are in the UK / Europe anyway!) I am sharing some more mini books - this time over at PaperArtsy - be lovely to see you there for all the details on how I made these.

While I had this stamp set out I made a couple of cards too - stamping onto tissue paper before adding to a grungy background.

 Nikki

xxx

Tando Creative Mini Books

Today I am over at A Vintage Journey with a tutorial for these mini books by Tando Creative. The process I am going through is same I used on my Canvas a couple of weeks ago... if you missed it you can see it here.

I made two little books this time - similar but not quite the same colours!

I just love these cute litte book - 6cm square!

Some previous versions if you want to see something a little less bright! (Here)

Thanks for stopping by and do head over to A Vintage Journey for all the details today.

Nikki
xxx

Tando Creative Mini Books

I recently purchased a pack of Tando Mini Books to assemble. These are just 6cm square and are super cute!!! The pack contains the covers and the spines - already cut and ready to assemble and decorate. I also played around with different ways to add the signatures.

The concertina works really well and allows all the pages to open flat.

I think this is my favourite - and is on it's way to a friend who is starting a new adventure!

Here are the other two:

I would like to enter my mini books into:

Mini Album Makers Challenge for May.

Nikki 

xx

Strength and Courage Mini Book

Hello. It is time for a post over at PaperArtsy this evening featuring Alison Bomber's wonderful quotes - Strength and Courage (EAB08). The current theme at PaperArtsy is Nautical colours.

More details and pics on the PaperArtsy blog this evening.

Nikki

Mini Book for A Vintage Journey

Hi everyone, back with a couple of blog posts this week after a quiet period here! Not had much crafting time of late after starting a new job. Hoping I get into a better routine soon and manage to find more time for creating and blogging.

Today we have a new challenge at A Vintage Journey - hosted by the lovely lady that is Anne Redfern from Redanne! Our theme is Mini Marvels and Anne is looking for projects that are miniature - less that 4 inches.

I have created a mini book - which is 3 inches square. One thing I have done over the last month is attend a Seth Apter workshop - Book of Moments - where we altered book covers to create a book. Despite me not yet finishing that project it certainly inspired me to create this.

I started with some greyboard and cut two pieces 3 x 3 inches square. I also cut some kraft card 1inch x 3inches (or a fraction under) and scored at 1/2 an inch. I joined these together.

For my pages I took some cardstock and my distress inks. Firstly tea die to give that aged look and then a little ink splodging and stencilling. The edges were distressed and more ink added.

I stamped several quotes from Alison Bomber / PaperArtsy stamp sets - selecting some of my favourites from Music and Silence (EAB03)  and Darkness and Light (EAB02). I heat embossed for added impact.

 For the front I took Seth Apter / Spellbinders Pathways die and stippled various paints over it.

I added a previously created star and a Tim Holtz Quote chip. For the back I used just the Pathways die.

I added some patterned paper to the insides and the backs of my distressed / stamped pages. I will add to these later! 

There is heaps more miniature inspiration at A Vintage Journey today - plus the chance to win a prize from Southern Ridge Trading Co. or to be one of our Pinworthies this month.

I would like to enter the Mini Album Makers November Challenge.

I am back on Monday with a PaperArtsy project - see you then!

Nikki 

xxx

Giving and Receiving - it's AVJ Secret Santa!

Hello! Over at A Vintage Journey it is our annual Secret Santa - where we are each given the name of one of the design team to make a gift for, and then we receive one from someone else. I heard a few weeks a go, I was making for Astrid Maclean. At first I was stumped, didn't know what to make.

 Then I thought about Astrid's style and what she likes - 2 things came to mind - lots of texture and making books. So I decided to take my lead from Astrid - I went on her blog and downloaded and then got photos printed of some her designs for A Vintage Journey this year.

So I made her a book celebrating Astrid Maclean at A Vintage Journey in 2015. The photos on the pages are Astrid's work - not mine - and I have created and designed my pages to reflect her designs.

Here are the photos of all the pages.... please keep reading to the end to see what I received from Anne Redfern - it is amazing!

As I was finishing my creation for Astrid a couple of weeks ago the postman knocked on the door. Amongst the usual brown envelopes was a very neatly wrapped parcel. After initial curiosity I saw the postmark and guessed who it was from and that is must be my surprise Secret Santa gift. It still brings a smile to my face when I think about it. 

Earlier in the year I had the pleasure of meeting Anne for the first time and she had an amazing bag made from Tim Holtz fabric. I loved it. When I opened my gift I was so touched to find this gorgeous make up bag!

I confess this brought I tear to my eye - that Anne would have made me something so beautiful. 

Do hop over to Anne's blog for more details.

THANK YOU ANNE xxxxx

 It has been a difficult year, losing my mum. The team at A Vintage Journey have been wonderfully supportive and many sent me wonderfully crafted birthday cards for my 50th in September - a complete surprise. Anne's gift just added to this wonderful feeling. When life is tough, the kindness of others really makes a huge difference. Thank you all.

Nikki xxx