Domino Book - Nature's beauty

I took a class again on Saturday teaching this cute little domino book. I want to enter the Simon Says Stamp and Show 'Fly' challenge this week with this piece not only because I have images of things with wings but because I really felt my class overcame a number of challenges to produce their domino books and I achieved one of my educational philosophies which is to take someone to the edge of their learning and let them 'fly', which they did. (See samples at the end of the post). I would also like to enter Lisa's Blogger's Challenge and Make My Monday who both have 'backgrounds' as their theme.

This is more a visual post today, so ready for a few photos?

The inside pages altogether.

The images were stamped onto a long strip of gelli print and then cut to the right size.

I edged the rectangles with walnut stain DI.

Once adhered to the accordian pages I edged the rectangles with gold pen.

Three different shades of green alcohol inks were used for the domino covers. I didn't sand these as I like the very mottled effects you can achieve on the glossy surface.

All the words were computer generated and the bird is a BLine stamp on shrink plastic, coloured lightly with promarkers.

Charms and beads were added.

The ribbon is tied at the sides.

The class of ladies loved making theirs and there are some samples below of how theirs turned out.

I have already started another as I love these little treasures so much.

hugs {brenda} x0x

These were not all of the ladies work as the lighting or focus prevented me from adding the others, but they made this little book in 3 hours which was a great achievement. 

Thanks for another fabulous fun class girls.

A new Challenge launches TODAY

A BRAND NEW CHALLENGE SITE OPENS TODAY

Country View Crafts' Challenges

"Where challenges are fun and open to all crafters. Whether you like vintage or cute, shabby chic or simple elegance, cardmaking, scrapping or altered art then we want to see what you are making. Join in with our challenge community and share your crafting ideas".

Country View Crafts' Challenges is sponsored by Country View Crafts an on-line shop for all your crafting needs with very keen prices. There is also a Country View Crafts' Updates blog where you can get news on new releases and inspiration samples made by Gabrielle and Chris.

This is starting as a monthly challenge blog and the theme for March is 'Pic 'n' Mix' also known as 'Anything Goes'. My DT piece is an altered domino book.

I have been in education all my life and wanted to make something that reminded me of my view that learning is for life, something that I am experiencing again now with all my endeavours to learn new techniques and to have new ideas in this creative world of ours. 

I started by using alcohol inks and a script stamp on the domino covers, then added a piece of Tim Holtz filmstrip on which I glued a clock (to represent the time I have been a teacher and educator), and three words dedicated to my philosophy.

The little charms hanging at the sides all have meaning too. The letter B and the bee insect to represent me, the key which is about unlocking the knowledge and learning and wings because I believe that when teaching we should take our students to the edge of learning and let them fly.

Inside, I masked and inked a piece of card and stamped over this using the clock image, then cut pieces for the pages. I created my own inspirational words on the PC.

I do hope you will join in our challenges with your own inspiration piece. The rules of entry can be read on the blog and it would be lovely to see you over there. At the end of the month the winner will receive a £20.00 voucher to use at Country View Crafts on-line shop. Pretty decent eh?

Have a great creative month of March - Spring is on the way in the northern hemisphere.

hugs {brenda} x0x

PanPastels - Sun, Sea and Sand

This is my DT contribution for our PP challenge this week and I just loved playing with my PanPastels and Crafty Individuals stamps to make this little altered domino book.

I wish I had taken more photos to show you the stages (but I didn't!!!) so I hope you get the gist of it.

• Cut white card and black sugar paper to size. 
• Used my scoreboard on the black to create the zig-zag (accordion) pages.
• Blended yellow, blue and green PPs to create a sand, sea and sky effect.
• Stamped with CI plates 272 and 278 and used a rubber to take some of the background colour out of the images.
• Painted the images with DIs.

• Chopped up the images to the size of the book pages and edged them with walnut stain DI.
• stuck the pieces to the black pages and added gold pen along the edges.
• Stamped the bunting from CI plate 284, edged with walnut stain and stuck on pages then glued some vintage gold thread across for the string.
• Made the domino covers using alcohol inks, painted cheesecloth and added shrink plastic shells and sea horse again using CI plate 272.

I added bakers twine to tie it all together but hated it and ended up yanking it out (luckily no damage done). I swapped it for the vintage gold thread I have. Much happier with that.

It would be lovely to see you join in with this challenge at PanPastel UK . You don't have to use PanPastels to have a chance of winning a set of PanPastels from Your Creativity Store.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

hugs {brenda} xox