Adventures in shrink plastic....merbabes

Well I know its been an age since I last posted, but you guys kinda took me by surprise. I'd been threatening to open an Etsy shop for ages, and honestly jewellery was the last thing on my list to make or sell!
So after a lot of experimentation I put five items on sale just to see what the response would be. Four days later to my absolute amazement I sold something!! One Facebook status update later and I'd sold the lot!

So its taken me a while to get things back on track, but back on track I am. But before I go off on one about the new stuff I just want to say thank you to everyone for supporting me. whether you shared a link on facebook, bought an item from the shop, or just said 'that's pretty' , thank you.

Its taken such a lot to put my stuff out there, so the fact that people like this stuff enough to buy it means so much. But enough with that on to the new stuff.
For this your going to need to channel your inner mermaid, or as I'm calling this little lot Merbabes.

First up, you guessed it a mermaid.

Clam shells or,  as I like to call them, mermaid bras. these have been done on frosted shrink plastic which works really well as it gives them a sea glass look.

 

 

Ombre seahorse.

All items are for sale in the Etsy shop now along with my other collection 'Rockabilly radness'. So hop on over and take a look, and don't forget if you like what you see follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for regular updates and sneak peeks.

Vicky xx

Adventures in Shrink Plastic.....at long last

So the exciting news is at long last I finally have a Etsy shop!!!!!!

Yes I know its taken such a long time but I'm proud to say I've finally managed it.
So lets talk about what's in it. Well those who know me will probably already know that I am obsessed, just take a look at my Pinterest board, with the 1950s and rockabilly in particular. The whole thing, the clothes they wore, the cars, the clothes, the tattoos, the clothes and the hair! Don't even get me started with Bettie bangs!

So I decided that it would be nice to start with a small collection inspired by that, I'm calling it 'Rockabilly Radness'.
I was also aware that valentines Day is just around the corner and no valentines would be complete without some hearts and no rockabilly valentine would be complete without a traditional heart and scroll.

Another classic rockabilly staple is a swallow. This one is done in pastel pink and blue flying across a fluffy cloud. There are lots of meanings behind swallow tattoos but my favourite is that sailors used to get swallow tattoos as they believed that if they drowned the swallow would come down and lift his soul to the heavens. I also thinks its beautiful that swallows choose only one mate for life!

I don't know why but I always associate cherries with rockabilly, and I'm a sucker for anything in cherry print. So I knew I had to have some cherries in this. On their own they looked kinda weird so I put them on a striped star and now I'm really happy with how they look. In fact I wore this necklace out and received so many compliments!

Aaah my Birthday Girl brooch, when I first designed this back in September I did it with a tattoo/rockabilly style in mind. I wore it all day on my birthday and loved it. I have put this in the shop with an option to have it customised, so you can change the colours or have a name or something else written on it.

And last but not least glitter hearts. Now I know that this doesn't really fit into the rockabilly category but it does fit into the GLITTER category and who doesn't love a bit of that? and like I said I knew that valentines day was fast approaching.

So to celebrate the opening of my shop, the month of romance, and all things glittery I'm giving away one of these heart necklaces to one of you lucky people!!

 
TO ENTER
Go to my facebook page, like the page, like and share the post

The winner will be drawn at random on Saturday 15th February

P.S I just want to say a massive thank you to my husband for his ace photography XX

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

 

Sew Sunday ... scotty dog

This little scotty dog was actually a gift for my mom last christmas. I know its a bit lazy but the new stuff i'm working on is still a work in progress, but it will be ready soon. So back when it was very cold and wintery I made this. Yes I know its still fairly cold and wintery now but rest assured the new things im working on will remind you of warm sunny days!!
We did have a name for him or her but I honestly cant remember what it is, so any suggestions let me know.

I think I might have wanted to call him 'button' due to his button eyes, or maybe petal. But honestly who knows, it was christmas and ive slept since then. Anyway I guess its up to my mom to name it really seeing as he lives with her now.

I also wanted to show you this fab new magazine I found 'Ruby loves'.

 

I know anyone who has little girls will love this. Its packed full of stuff to make and only costs a fiver. The best of it is everything you need to make the projects inside is in the bag, apart from the eggs and flour for the cookie pops because that would be stupid lol, but theres no need to buy anything. In this the first issue you can make a bag, cards, a ring, a keyring and loeds more. I cant think of better way to get young girls interested in craft, and yes I know its aimed at young girls but I couldnt help but buy it anyway. So if you've got little girls who love to craft I suggest you check it out.

 

Love Vicky

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

 

 

 

Craft Show haul

Thank God I chose to go to the craft show at the NEC on Thursday before we had all this snow!!! Now I love a good dollop of snow, but not in March! I mean honestly we should be packing away our thermals not pulling them on again.
But luckily the weather wasn't too bad on Thursday so I made it to the show, and thought I would share with  you some of the bits I got.

 

Halloween theme Fat Quarters.

 

I bought a lot of Fat quarters as the sewing bit there is great, with loads of different fabrics you don't really see anywhere else. I've also come to the conclusion that I could spend a fortune on fabric. Seriously I had to drag myself away from the pirate themed ones, and I still went and found them on eBay when I got home.

 As some people might know were big on Halloween in our house so I plan to make bunting with this (yes I'm big on bunting too). I'm thinking I might go for a different shape with this instead of traditional triangles but we'll see.

 

 

More fat quarters...

 

No idea what I'm going to make with these, but they all went together so well. I love the stripy one it reminds me of a stick of rock!

 

 

Easter fat quarters.

 

I think these are Easter themed and at least that what I thought of when I saw them but everyone I've shown them to thinks they look more baby themed. Either way I'll be using it in an Easter related way.

 

 

Alphabet stamp and clock stencil thingy

 

Its not often I buy stamps, I normally use digital, but I was looking for something to use in a project I'm working on at the moment. I got this one one as I love typewriter font and will probably use it in a lot of tings, the clock thingy is a thingy because I just can't remember the companies name but I'm hoping to use it the same project.

 

and last but not least

 

 

bits and pieces from the crafts a pound shop.

 

This is the best shop, loads of stuff all for a pound. You can pick up loads of bits for your stash, the only draw is that its the busiest shop at the show. Honestly they need to operate a one way system! its just a massive free for all, how they keep a track on who's paid and who hasn't, and don't even get me started on women with trolleys. Those things should be banned..lol

 

So I'm off to moan about the snow a bit more, and put my Easter decorations up.

 

Vicky Xxx

 

 

 

 

sew sunday...

Just a quickie today to show you these fun little hair clips. I'm busy busy busy at the moment trying to sort out stuff for the little fellas birthday and Easter.

 

OK so there isn't an awful lot of sewing to these, but they're easy peasy to make and would look so cute in a Little girls hair. And there really cheap too, I bought a pack of 30 hair clips for £1, the felt I already had but that's not too expensive either.

 

 I really like the bright pink one, Its such a pretty flower. it looks complicated to make but its really easy when you know how. maybe if I get around to it I will do a quick tutorial.

 So now I'm off to bake Star wars cakes in preparation for my little mans tea party and I'm off to the craft show on Thursday to spend some of my hard earned cash lol.

Thanks for stopping by
Love Vicky Xxx

 

 

 

Sew Sunday : 3 Little Dickie Birds

Hey,
I know its been sooo long since I last posted anything handmade sorry, but I am trying to get my bum in gear and provide some regular posts. I'm just trying to decide what to include and and when, so I thought I would start with this post and see how I go.

 These little guys started out life as Easter chicks, but the more I look at them the more I think they should be lovebirds. I mean look at them, they look so cute and loved up. I think maybe I will have to get them out for valentines day next time instead of Easter.

 

I made the pink and then the blue and then jack insisted I make a green one, so now we have a family of love birds! Jacks the green one in case you were wondering, as its his favourite colour, I'm the pink and Gaz is blue.

 

They all have cute little tails at the back, but my rubbish photography doesn't show them very well at all. there really easy to make and can be hand sewn, which is great as sometimes its such a chore to get the sewing machine out, especially if your like me and don't have space to leave it out all the time.
so now I guess I need to rethink my Easter chicks, better get my thinking cap on.

I've also been thinking for a long time now about doing a few tutorials on here. If you would be interested, or would like to see a tutorial for these or anything else you have seen in my blog leave me a comment at the bottom.

Thanks for stopping by
Vicky Xxx

 

Welcome to Monsterville...

So our annual Halloween party was a bit of a wash out this year due to me coming down with Tonsillitis two days before. I had to stay in bed the whole week, and at one point couldn't actually speak! I did think about cancelling, but I didn't want to disappoint the children. So I forced myself out of bed and put on my happy face. Because of this a lot of the things I had planned to do had to be put on hold so this post is a mix n match of this year and last year.

 

First up invitations to Monsterville

 

 

 My handmade skull chocolates, which I totally forgot to put on the table for everyone! Jacks Frankenstein decoration, and the party bags. For the second year running I forgot to take proper pics of them so this is the only one I've got, and these parties have definitely taught me that kids really don't care what the bags look like, its the toys and sweets inside that count!

 

 

Jacks hand print spider picture, we saw these on good old pinterest so had to have a go ourselves. I love it and will keep it forever. My BOO wreath made with scraps of net.

 

 

I can't take credit for the sugar skull cookies as they were made by a friend, I can however take credit for eating some of them and they were lovely! My Ghosty cupcakes from 2011 which were a bit of a hit on pinterest, and you'll have to ask the guests about the witches brew.

 

 

The picture wall was supposed to have more pictures this year of last years guests but I ran out of time due to being poorly.

 

 

Jacks footprint ghost picture, this is even cuter than the spider, Love it. And my bargains that I got in the sales after Halloween last year. I love the glitter haunted house, but have to wonder how long the glitter will stay on.

 

 

Last years cookies, which were also a pinterest hit, and party bag tags which I downloaded from somewhere but can't remember where.

 

 

BOO ghost welcoming our visitors, and the little Witch waiting for some little monsters to play a game of pin the nose on the witch. Which was great fun!

 

Sorry if there's not as much homemade stuff as you were expecting, but I was truly ill. Anything I didn't manage to do this year will be done for next years party, and more. I already have the theme now all I need to do is not get ill.

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

Homemade Christmas - Wreaths

One day I might get to show you all my Christmas makings before the new year instead of in it, but hey ho what can I say?These past few months have been so busy for me and I feel like Christmas just jump up and bit me on the ass! I was planning on having any Christmas stuff made before the end of October but due to an unexpected turn of events I hadn't even started anything in October!!
But I had vowed when I was making Halloween Stuff that I would make one of these wreaths for Christmas. I made this white one to hang on my dining room door, I had a vision in my head of how I wanted it and I am very pleased with the finished result,  (I have to aplologise for the crappy picture quality in this one but I forgot to take a proper pic before I put it away and this is a quickie taken with my phone) soo that was where I intended to move on to other projects. However my mom had other plans.......

As soon as I showed it to her she wanted one too !! So I postponed my projects and set to work. To be honest I was kinda glad as I love making these. Mom asked for one the same but with green wool and I have to admit that I think I like this one slightly more. What can you say, Mom knows best. lol

 xXx