Thursday Crafternoon....shrinky madness

Hi so I know I've been missing in action for a while now since I got back from my hols. It always takes me a little while to come back down to earth after a holiday and especially when Ive been to Lindos. We had a great time and its still every bit as beautiful as it was when we were married.

That said I have not sat and done nothing since I've been back. Oh no I've been busy busy busy. Jacks bedroom was in serious need of a face lift, he still had a border and curtains that he had when he was born!!! Its still not quite finished and when it is I  intend to move on to my bedroom and carry on until the whole house is just the way I want it. I'm calling it project house. If any ones interested in seeing the before and after let me know and I might blog about it.

But in the tiny amount of time I have had I've managed to make a few things. I'm still having a love affair with shrink plastic (hence the title) but its definitely been a period of experimentation, which is another reason for the lack of posts. Any way I'll stop waffling and show you the pics........

 

This little lady is Rubie. I love her so much shes so cute, and in my mind I can see her in lots of different vintage outfits. This Rubie is a brooch but she can come as a necklace or key ring too.

 

 

I wanted to do some key rings in the style of those old vintage tin signs, these are what I came up with.

 

I cant decide which is my fave the beach huts or the ice cream.

 

 

All the nice girls love a sailor...These two honeys are both called kitty. Again I see them in lots of different retro outfits and I'm dying to do one with pink hair. They have come out a lot smaller than I expected so I might have to do a bit of a rethink. I thought maybe I could put them on a heart background or something. It would also make them more sturdy as I managed to drop another one and her leg fell off..lol. I did say it was experimental!!

 

 

I am totally in love with this one. I wanted to do something with a rockabilly/tattoo feel. then I saw a tattoo sketch by one of my favourite tattoo artists Leah Moule , and the cogs began to turn. I changed the traditional rockabilly swallow into a seagull, and I can see it with a lighthouse or helter skelter instead of the ice cream too.

 

So there you have it, I hope it's been worth the wait. I'll try not to leave it so long next time, and I might have a new collection coming up too. Stay posted and don't forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, pinterest, and Instagram.

 

Xxx

 

 

 

 

Thursday Crafternoon...shrinky plastic

Well we're back to rainy cold weather again. Two days of warm sunny weather and out came the shorts and sandals and dinner was a barbecue. We all went a bit mad, as we do, and then in true Brit style it disappeared as quickly as it came. Oh well I suppose we should be used to it by now!

Unfortunately, just to rub it in, I'm going to make you think of sunny days again now. The bad weather has not stopped me making, and I've been banging on about shrinky plastic on my facebook page for a while now. So I think its high time I showed you what I've been doing with it.

keyrings

 

 

 I'm not going to lie, it was more challenging to work with than I thought and is definately still a work in progress. Having said that this stuff is magic. Honestly you put it in the oven close the door and when you open it again, poof its shrunk. Its amazing!

I'm so easily pleased lol.

 

Brooches

 

 

The keyrings have definately turned out better than the brooches. Which is a shame as I was so excited about the brooches. Like I said its a work in progress, the white shrink plastic is difficult as its really shiny and hard to colour on. I'm trying to find a way of colour it without seeing the pen marks.

 

oooh as I type the postman just bought me some more, yay. Right then that's me off to play and make more shrinky magic, lol

 

Xxx

 

thursday crafternoon...vintage caravans

Well thank God most of the snow has gone, although there's still some bits that are refusing to go and its still bloody freezing.

So lets think about sunnier days, picnics, the seaside and vintage caravans. I love vintage caravans and would love to have either a tiny little British one to renovate or a huge American airstream. But for now I'll just have to make do with these.

 

Mixed media vintage caravan

 

Mixed media art is great, its like collage for grown ups, I used some old scrapbook paper, paints, pens and an old book I have no intention of reading again. which is a good job as its got pages missing now....lol.

 

If I had a caravan I'd call it Dolly. I could even cope with one at the bottom of the garden. I could do all my crafting and blogging in there, not to mention hide away from the boys when I've had enough ;)

 

 

Jack asked me to do one with a british theme in red white and blue, he's fast becoming my most important advisor and harshest critic. You can always rely on a child to tell you exactly what they think. Bless him.

 

I'm hoping to open an etsy shop in the next few months and doing a whole seaside range, hopefully some variations of these will be available along with some other stuff.

In the meantime I'll just have to dream of one day owning a 'Dolly' of my own!

 

Love Vicky

xxx

 

 

 

Pinspiration - march

It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I find it really difficult to stick to just one craft, and there are so many things which inspire me. I find inspiration everywhere, shops books etc but I mostly find it on pinterest.
Thank the lord for pinterest! I will not deny I am utterly addicted to this site and could spend hours just scrolling down the page looking for more pins. So I thought I would share some of this Pinspiration with you.......

easter wreath by tatertots and jello

Easter.....chicks, eggs, bunnies, chocolate, hot cross buns. whats not to love???

This wreath is so pretty, I've already made a few things for Easter and I'm working on the rest.

 I have  given up bread for lent this year, normally i try to give up chocolate and last about 3 days, and I can't wait to have a hot cross bun. Baked by my husband of course!

Vintage caravans....how gorgeous is this. I would love to have a tatty old vintage caravan to restore. In fact I found one for sale on ebay the other day only 20 miles from my home, and the at the time the bidding was at £103, and in very good condition. Bargain! If I could have fit it on the drive or at the bottom of the garden I would have seriously considered bidding!

I have got a couple of projects which are caravan inspired on the go at the moment..pics to follow.

noelmignon.com

mixed media art...........I love how these look and really want to have a go. I like the idea of using lots of different bits and pieces that wouldn't normally go together to make one piece of art. I feel canvas and some glue winging its way to me soon.

If you want to see any of these pins or follow me on pinterest just click here

Have a good day Xxx

Diamond Jubilee...a 50's celebration

Well I can honestly say I have thoroughly enjoyed this weekend, and am very proud to be British!! Although I don't envy any of the Royal family having to stand on that boat in the pouring rain on Sunday and as for those poor singers....
I can only begin to imagine what the atmosphere must have been like in London, I'm sure it was fantastic whatever the weather. We Brits are used to it, but I'm happy to say it did stay dry for my Moms garden party on Monday.

These are the invitations. Can you spot the deliberate mistake? Yep no time or date Oops! Mom decided to give the party a 50's feel, which is right up my street as I'm slightly very obsessed with that whole era. So I was off to find a dress, it's such a hard life, lol, but more of that later. Mom was also born in the 50's a few years after the coronation and my Uncle was actually born the same year as the coronation! So it seemed a fitting theme.

Clockwise from top - Jacks Jubilee hat, thrown together at the last minute for his school celebrations. To be honest I had no intention of making this and was going to send him in his crown from book day, but then guilt took over and I didn't want him to think I couldn't be bothered. The other side had Big Ben, a London bus and a taxi.

Cupcakes, traditional vanilla topped with vanilla butter cream, and either a Union Jack, London bus, Telephone box or a handmade cupcake topper.

my mantelpiece, a commemorative cup and saucer, a London bus, which is actually a fridge magnet, and the lady herself the Queen looking very glam in a glittered union jack frame, which cost a pound from the pound shop!

Left to right - my ribbon corsage made last minute on Sunday Night

my cupcakes again with handmade union Jack topper

My Moms brooch again made last minute on Sunday, I definitely work better and find I'm more creative under pressure, lol.

left - the front of Jacks jubilee hat, a re-styled Easter bonnet again from the pound shop, I love a bargain, or am I just tight?

Right - handmade cupcake toppers

Clockwise from top - Moms garden decorated with paper bunting looking pristine ready for 7 children to come along and trash it. ha

Jack playing pin the crown on the Queen, a twist on the traditional game of pin the tail on the donkey. Me, Yes I DO have legs! A rare pic of me and even rarer that I'm wearing a dress. My red, white and blue 50's outfit.

left to right - Handmade sour cream boxes (no idea why they call them that) filled with traditional sweet shop sweets such as love hearts, drum sticks, and black jacks.

'let them eat cake' topper

my pin the crown on the Queen game, I'm sure her Maj would approve.

left to right - Queenie hiding in the bushes

Jack and Grace under the table, its way more fun under there

Jack, Grace and Isabella proving that there's nothing more entertaining than a worm..lol

Clockwise from top - my bunting, made from the fat quarters I picked up at the craft show I was a bit miffed to find that there was one fabric missing! Thanks though to the excellent customer service at the cotton patch who when I called them on weds sent the missing one straight away and I got it first thing this morning, Now I just have to decide whether to unpick the bunting and add it in, make some more, or make something else entirely!

my red white and blue rose wreath, my glue gun worked so hard making this and Jacks hat that it broke :(  I'm so sad!

my union Jack 'E' for England or Elizabeth you choose. this was the most time consuming thing of all. The shop had no E's left and rather than send for one and pay the postage I thought I'd just make one. So this is made from a cereal box. When I came to paint it I had a bit of a problem with the paint so in the end I decoupaged it, See time consuming, although I am happy with the end product.

Congratulations to the Queen, whether people agree with the monarchy or not 60 years on the throne is pretty good going. To think that at the age of 25 to have to come to terms with not only unexpectedly losing your father but the daunting task of becoming the Queen can be by no means easy. She could have given it all up to Charles long ago.

Someone asked me If I had any plans for the Jubilee weekend, when I told her she said 'well you enjoy it after all we wont see another' . She may well be right but who knows something tells me I may well be getting this lot out in another 10 years for the platinum, and if not, well there's always the coronation!

Long live the Queen!

cupcake toppers courtesy of pink petticoat

Vintage Knickers

As Promised here's Shaunis card. As she originally asked for a lingerie cake, I knew these Flirties from Pink Petticoat would be perfect. I wanted to give the idea of an old fashioned dressing screen and wanted the whole thing to have a vintage feel about it. To be honest I don't really think I achieved that and think it would have looked better with the papers mounted on black card. So when I've got a mo I might have a bash at making another for my stash. Saying that I really love the colours in the papers, which are actually valentine papers!! Anyway on to the next...Mmmm what shall it be? Card? Cake? wait and see! Xxx