On Branching Out! Birdhouse Time!

I've been nervous about trying new things as I'm very good at being all the gear and no idea! Anyway I'd got hold of a blank birdhouse and been dying to vintage it up scrapbook stylee so had a go at it yesterday and am well happy with the results.

I used my Tim Holtz Alterations dies for the decorations and painted it, stamped it, distressed it and sealed it... And it's so cute! I had painted it gold and brown to start off with but changed my mind! The pics below show the stages and the finished item... Going to do some more for sure... Nice to have a bit of variety on my next stall. (Which is the Arte Souk in Times Square in July- plenty of time to get some new stock built up)

Hope you like my vintage birdy box....

How it looked before I got at it!

I didn't like the gold wasn't vintagey enough for me

That's better... All brown! Nice though cos the gold glimmers through a little bit... On purpose I did that of course hahaha!

The Tim Holtz die cut bits and bobs I'd made... Distressed and stamped and sealed. I covered the top birdy hole with the lock to make it look funky!

Stamped the roofs with a Tim Holtz stamp and sealed... Am praying it dries clear at this point!

And voila! Finished!

Finished cheep cheep :) I really enjoyed making this.. More to follow I predict!

Fabulous Fifties... From Marianne Design

I have been dying to make a new scrap book album but been lacking the urge... No orders at the mo and no market looming... so have taken the time to get organised, order some new fabby things and maybe try some different things as well. Until that stock arrives though I had a root through what I have and found the new Fabulous Fifties stack from Marianne Design that had arrived last week and yay I was inspired again!

I've been experimenting with paint colours for my covers as well so decided n a metallic copper... Have done the hand painting but not the embellishment yet... Tonight I focused on the pages. I also received my Movers and Shapers metallic tray by Tim Holtz to use with my Big Shot- so no more trying to make it fit the sandwich with bits of card... So much easier hahaha! Hence there's tons of lovely love hearts in these pages.

Here's a pic of the results and will post the covers when I've done them too so you can see the finished item... It's quite a big album for once 15cm by 22cm so lots of room for fab pics, notes and memories to put in my custom memory envelopes too.

Had fun with my new stash of buttons too as well as a mini scrapper panic... Nearly run out of Glossy Accents... Heaven forbid... I know where I'm going this weekend!

How it all began!

I'm a new to scrapping scrapper! I started in June last year and haven't looked back! It all started when I went to a craft fair in Oman and saw some cute little albums a lady had made. I bought one and as per usual thought "I could do that!" Which has been the start of many a crafty attempt by me... I've tried it all... Painting, sewing, crocheting, knitting, glass painting, paper mâché, making candle sticks from plaster of Paris... And failed at them all!

So I started making an album for my little brother who had just got married, then I did one for my mum with all her grandchildren in...  then before I knew it I'd made 20 albums! Just a few too many for presents and I wanted to make more...

I started to buy more equipment and supplies... Found the wonderful Tim Holtz and Graphic 45 and a fab website called Cuddly Buddly to order things from as well as the craft shops here in Dubai... Creative Hands and Paper Lane... And booked a stall at the ExpatWoman Winter Fair. I was going to sell my wares!

Guess what?

I sold out all my stock of 35 albums... I wasn't totally nuts... There was a market for my hobby so I could carry on with it. Finally I had found something I was actually good at! I don't know who was more shocked... My family, my husband or me! Hahahah!

So since then I've done 5 fairs including the RIPE Market and Arte Souk and some cute school fairs and have also been dong special orders for people too... I am now a "commissioned artist"... Well in my head I am!

I'm going to share my creative journey here with you as we'll as tips, ideas and inspiration and feedback n the various markets in Dubai and anything else that occurs to me!

Exciting times!