Cream Crackered - Can't Stop Sleeping

Well, we got back from our holiday on Friday evening at 7 pm UK time (would have been 8 pm where we had left so as we set off from the hotel at 10.30 that morning it had been a long day - 9.5 hours!).  We had left a very very hot part of the world and returned to a very very cold and wet part of the world.  I could not get warm when we came in.  However, after good night's sleep and the heating having been on all night I was much better the next day.

Set off for our club meeting where we were revisiting Shrink Plastic and Pat, our tutor for the day, had made lots of things for us to see, had conducted lots of experiments with the various inks and things so there was lots for us to do.

I took some of the shrink plastic things I had made in the past and I made some bits whilst there:

The jewellery pieces on the right are what I had made previously and the three 'lady' pieces at the bottom were from printed images I already had.

On the way home I called at a well known Pharmacy for some lotion with Aloe Vera in it which Lynne had recommended.  Three applications later and my legs are not looking as red as they were

Still sore though and the right foot is still swollen when I sit with it down so a cushion on the stool is the order of the day.  Hopefully it will be better for tomorrow when I go to stay with my friend Wendy.  Whatever it is that is causing this redness (varicose eczema or blood pooling?) it obviously does not like the sun, maybe the pooled blood started to simmer?

Well, I am certainly catching up on any missed sleep, woke at 6.30 this morning, made a cuppa and slept until 9.30 am.  This is so not me - and I had slept most of last night in front of the tv.  I guess it is doing me no harm at all so I will just enjoy dreaming.  Got to do my reviews now on Trip Advisor - especially for the best burgers ever - Momo Burger in Nerja (and I am not addicted to burgers).

Charmed I am Sure

It was Von's turn for the theme on Artful Times this week and she came up with the request for us to make charms.  She has asked if you want to take part in a swap with some of them and if you do can you email her please and she will give you further details.

Without further ado I will show you what I have been up to.  I started off alcohol inking two dominoes and then changed my mind and did some - wait for it - I am going back in time again - some Stampbord. (Yes, that's how it is spelled).

Here are two domino sized pieces resting on my inked trionimo and travel domino.  The one on the left has been glazed with Glossy Accents and the one on the right with wax and then it has Accent Beads in the centre.  These don't have holes in - I think I can fix something on them to make them into charms and would be happy to swap them.

This is a small wooden letter stamped on, coloured and then glazed. It does have a hole in it, in fact it has two.

These are Stampbord as well, not glazed as yet but they do have holes in them.  I would be happy to swap these too.

Shrink Plastic

The necklace on the left is done on transparent SP and then has either Brilliance (light ones which are then stamped) or Alcohol Inks on them (most wire wrapped).  I put them on an old chain so they make another necklace.  The leaf at the top right is SP again but stuck on a Stampboard tile this time.  The doll fits together with jump rings (not done yet) and then she dances her way around.  Not swapping these as I like my necklace and I don't think the others worth swapping.

Lastly I found an old piece of Bottlecap Art when I was looking for my Stampbord.  This is a belt and I think I made it for the first or second edition of a Stamping Magazine back in the days when I did articles for mags, but I cannot for the life in me think of the title.  I know I was asked to do some bottlecap work for them - the editor was Daphne?  No, it's gone - but here is the belt (not swapping - sentimental at the moment but you never know)

All glazed with Glossy Accents, coloured with Sharpies and Glitter pens I think.  Now what will you do - am sure you will come up with some wonderful things and hopefully awaken some old ideas like I have tried to do.

Enjoy!

Artful Times Challenge 25 - Alcohol Inks

As I have pointed out on the Artful Times Blog I seem to have had an obsession with 'techniques' these last two challenges.  First it was colour and now Alcohol Inks.  I am sure most of you will not need any introduction to those tiny bottles introduced by Tim Holtz

or to what you can use them on.  The above is a piece of Shrink Plastic which I coloured in with Alcohol Inks.  Here's a better view of her I just wanted to show you how tiny she is (above).

She was stamped with Stazon on transparent Shrink Plastic.  Hint:  if doing this colour from the back to stop your ink moving.

Love using AI's on boxes - love the colour on these - the flower is on White Shrink Plastic and the butterfly on Transluscent.  I used Pool, Clover and Aqua for these boxes.

Thought I would show you one way of using up small pieces.  Alcohol Inks for colour and stamping with black and gold (Brilliance is another good ink to use) and you can make jewellery as below.  The necklaces are designed to be worn together to give two strands.

This is a very loaded bracelet and a pair of ear-rings for which you might need asbestos fingers.

Sorry the photos are dark, we seem to have had such poor light that I couldn't get them any better.

Well, considering I was intending colouring a large box that held a gift for my birthday I think you could say I got carried away with my Shrink Plastic.  What will you make?  Pop over to Artful Times and join in the challenge and see what Von has for you - exciting stuff I can tell you.