Art is relaxing....

I have been feeling quite artistic as of late...and my first attempt at a self portrait was encouraged by my son who 'showed' me how to use soft pastels for the very first time!!     I have fallen in love with pastels!!

Here are some of my drawings/pictures:

This is myself

I like still life a lot

Sometimes the artist within me can express herself easily , like water flowing from a strong river or fountain....Flowers are my ultimate favourite object to sketch!

Lip balm making.

Have you ever tried creating homemade cosmetics of any sort? Me? Never.  Well at least not until now.

I bought a nifty wee kit off the popular Ebay and it arrived today.

To make lip balms, all you basically need is the following ingredients (to make approx. 12 tubes):

4 oz carrier oil
30g  pure beeswax
5 ml  flavouring oil  (I used apple)

Method:

1. Place the beeswax into a jar and place this in a pot of hot water that is just gently simmering , not boiling.
2. Stir now and again , and once the beeswax has started to melt a little, add the 4oz of carrier oil and mix at intervals.
3. Once the beeswax has melted, lift out of the pot and set aside.
4. Allow to cool slightly then add the flavouring oil, using a pipette.
5. Mix thoroughly then pour into the empty lip balm tubes.
6. Allow to cool thoroughly, then place caps on.
7. Stick on some homemade labels and voila!!

I used Safflower oil as the carrier oil but Jojoba/Sweet Almond oil is just as effective

I designed these labels from my own computer.

Here are the applied labels!!

I used lip balm tubes but you can also get empty pots with lids at any good craft store or do a search on ebay.    I will give these to friends and family - however, please note that if you are planning to sell these on at any scale in the UK or EU, you need to be aware of the legal side of selling handmade cosmetics and you most likely will require what is known as a Cosmetic Safety Assessment.   (This is extremely important - please Google for further information)

What will you create today?

Mosaic Heaven

I love to experiment with mosaics and this is my latest creation......

 

Materials used were: MDF Square mirror, tesserae (mosaic tiles), grout, PVA glue.

This really was simple to make.

• First you take your tiles and arrange them on your wooden blank, then take some PVA glue and glue them on.
• Allow to dry for at least 24 hours ~ longer if possible.
• Apply the grout (ready made or grout powder to make your own is fine) in between the spaces
• Smooth over, and within 5 - 10 minutes go over each tile with a damp clean cloth and wipe away the excess grout.

Et, Voila!
You can basically make anything by decorating blanks with mosaic tiles.

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Here is a second project I have started just recently:

The materials I used are a circular wooden blank disc with a hole drilled into the centre, clock hands & mechanism set, clock adhesive numbers tiles, PVA glue, ready-made grout.

Step 1

As with the above project , I lined the tiles firstly on the disc in a nice pattern, glued them using PVA glue.
Then I filled in the gaps with the grout , and let it 'set' for 24 hours.

Step 2

I then attached the adhesive numbers around the clock perimeter

Step 3

Finally, I fastened the clock mechanism on the back & the clock hands on the front.

There you have it! A handmade mosaic clock!!

All about sewing...

Don't you ever get moments where inspiration just comes to you naturally?
I felt like this today ~ and took myself to the craft store in the next village near where I live, which is an Aladdin's cave of fabrics for all sorts of occasions. This company has been running for 40 years since  it opened in 1971, a good three years before I was even born!
 
I always love coming here, although the last time I set foot in the shop was for a job interview 2 years ago to work as a sales assistant. Needless to say I never got the job!!

I came out with some GORGEOUS fabric ~in saying that, I haven't sewn in a long time!!     Well, I spotted some skulls fabric which immediately reminded me of my sister who is into such things!!

I bought half a metre :

To be honest, I am a novice at sewing, and here is what I ended up making.....(like I said,  the cushion has it's imperfections. Oh well , practice makes perfect as they say!!)

I used a cushion blank, and inserted it inside the cushion cover which I had made from two squares of the fabric sewn onto an  8 " zip.    Then I added a cute gothic charm onto the zip as a finishing touch.....et voila!!!!

Easy peasy!!

I am planning on making a similar cushion very soon, only with a French design (Paris-themed fabic finished off with a small Eiffel tower charm on the zip!!)~ since I am a Francophile at heart..

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My very first cushion:

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What will you create today?   Can any of you come up with ideas on what I should make with this satin feel material? The most inspiring idea will win a prize from my own craft box!!  Feel free to add comments below!!

Here's some I made earlier!

My local Dunelm Mill store has introduced a new craft range recently and I was happy to see a much larger choice of beads/jewellery making supplies than was there before.

Bead Cafe bugle beads & heart charms

Mixed beads bracelet made from crackle glass beads/millefiori beads etc.

Spacers, faux pearl & shell beads were used.

Celestial surprise!

**Craft Giveaway**

I have been doing a clearout of my craft cupboard and found lots of stuff I no longer use or need.

Just leave a comment under this post for a chance of winning the following pictured items:

Cupcakes Stickers/Xmas glitter/Merry go round 3D sticker/12 m metallic craft cord

Best of luck!!
And , keep a look out for more future giveaways!!

Crafting for relaxation....

There is nothing quite like having a couple of hours to yourself and to be able to sit down and craft in peace and quiet.    My favourite craft is cardmaking!!     Here are some of my recent makes:

Forever friends are my favourite cute characters!

I used a wooden Santa embellishment on this one.

Lovely!

Bear on a sleigh.

And a notecard

French-themed