Crystal Update

Thought it was about time I shared how Crystal is doing. Crystal is my Daughter Mercedes and her partner Matt's dog,  just in case you're unfamiliar with the story. So many of you helped out with Crystal's Fund when she developed cancer and needed her left fore paw removed. Words just can't express how very very thankful we all are for your generosity, kind words and happy thoughts. We really couldn't even have thought about this happy ending without you.

Crystal's fund is closed now but you can still donate to pets in need by following 

this link!

Here are a few of the HAPPIEST pictures I've ever had the pleasure of viewing.

The amazingly talented Johnny Liu of Johnny Liu Photography took these breathtaking images of our Mercy and her beloved Crystal. Poor Matt had to work and couldn't be in on the shoot but I'm sure he was there in spirit.

Crystal is sporting a GIANT pink spiked collar. Love it!

 

Matching Crystal and Mercedes head shots.

I love this one. True devotion on both sides.

If you look between Crystal's waiting mouth and Mercedes' hand, you can see the treat. A fabulous shot!

Merc said this is Crystal's smile. You can see her front teeth.

Such amazingly wonderful pictures of two of the most courageous and lovely girls ever.

To contact the (Fabulous!) photographer 

Johnny Liu Photography

Mercedes is available through 

Charles Stuart International Models

Crystal Crystalsons is also available through 

Charles Stuart International Models

Thanks so much!

Sandy the Happy Crab, Beachy Trinket Box

I used STAEDTLER's Astrological Artist Mold to make this happy little crab box. The mold is heat and frost resistant and can be used with a heap of different mediums. I chose one of the new STAEDTLER fimo effect sorbet colours.

I think I may have to find some larger cardboard tubes and try this technique out on a bigger scale.

It sure was fun to make and it holds some of my beachy treasures. Teeny starfish and shells form the best vacation ever!

Here's what I used to make this project:

One STAEDTLER Art Mold (I used the Astrological Signs)

One STAEDTLER Push Mold (I used Jewellery)

One 56 g block of STAEDTLER fimo effect clay (I used ice blue quartz #306)

STAEDTLER karat soft pastel chalks 

STAEDTLER fimo gloss varnish

STAEDTLER liquid fimo deco gel

Stampendous golden sand embossing powder

Tools I used to create this Crabby Box:

Empty toilet paper or paper towel roll

Craft blade

Clay roller

Parchment paper

Small soft round paintbrush

Water in a spray bottle

I rolled out the fimo clay to a 1/4cm thick and wrapped strips around the paper tube. A thicker strip is the base of the box and was about 4cm tall. The thinner band is about 2cm tall and will be the lid. Blend the seams where the clay meets by gently rubbing with your fingertips. Make sure all the edges are even and there are no fingerprints. Place the pieces on a parchment lined baking sheet still on the paper tube, and bake in a preheated 230 degree oven for fifteen minutes and allow it to cool before moving on to the next step.

Push the ends of the tube onto a sheet of 1/4 cm thick rolled out clay and use the craft knife to cut the circles out. Place a circle on each end and blend in the edge seams with your fingertips. Bake the piece again for another fifteen minutes and allow it to cool.

Mist some water into your STAEDTLER mold and press in an appropriate amount of clay to fill the mold. The water will act as a release agent. 

Remove the baked clay pieces from the paper tube and place the molded crab (or whatever shape you picked) onto the top of the box. Blend in the edges as before. Bake on parchment paper lined baking sheet in a preheated 230 degree oven for twenty minutes.

Roll out some clay to about 1/8th cm thick and cut a ribbon to go along the inside of the top of the base of the box. Blend in the bottom edge of the ribbon.

Mist some water into the smaller flexible mold and press in small amounts of clay to make the shapes.

Press the shapes onto the box and when you're happy with the positions, bake the piece again for another twenty minutes and allow it to cool.

Paint the fimo liquid onto the piece where you would like the sandy embossing powder to stick. Dust the powder over the wet fimo liquid and re-bake the pieces for ten minutes at 230 degrees.

Rub sme of the STAEDTLER chalks onto a piece of clean paper and dip your soft paintbrush into the glossy varnish. Pick up a small amount of the dusty chalk and paint colour onto the piece. Clean out your brush before you re-dip into the varnish so you don't put colour in the varnish pot. I think this is my new favorite way to add colour to my fimo projects.

I used the same technique to add some watery looking blue to the sand edges.

This was a blast to make and I really am hunting around for some shipping tubes to make a bigger version. I am smitten with the translucent cool watery look this clay has. 

Hope you give it a try too!

Maggs is at it again! Look Away Those of Faint Heart

Seriously......

This is some great special effects makeup.

Really really good!

Not just saying that because my daughter did it!!!

Maggs' Grandma Judi got her a heap of special effects essentials for her birthday and we wanted to share what she's done with it. 

I've inserted (or attempted to insert) a jump break so those of you with weak stomachs don't need to see all the gory detail of Maggie's incredibly believable Zombie attack effects......

Here's a beautiful picture of our gorgeous and gentle Maggie for you folks to look at instead!

Hi ya Maggs!

STAEDTLER Sweet Summer Giveaway Winner!

And the winners are!!!!

(Why yes, I did make a drum roll sound with my lips.)

Isha Gupta 

won the STAEDTLER Sweet Summer Giveaway Prize featured above!

Yvonne Morentin won the Black Bird Necklace!

Chris Wooten won the Crown Necklaces!!

Kailash won the Blue Glittery Beads Necklace Set!!!

 

Girls please send me an email through my contact page so we can get your addresses and vitals for shipping.

YEAY!!!!

So happy to be able to share!

Video Tutorial for Stampendous Nails

Stampendous Glass Glitter and Mica Flakes in My Nails

Couldn't resist adding some of these glorious glitters from Stampendous to my gel nails.

Here are the results.

Full sun so you can see some of the sparkle.

In the shade.

If you don't do your own nails or aren't a licensed nail tech, you could certainly discuss taking these spectacular glitters into your local nail salon and have them added by your nail technician.

Sooooo sparklie!!

Stay tuned for the winners of our STAEDTLER Sweet Summer Giveaway with Stampendous early this week.

Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing, The Peter Pan Blouse

I bought myself a copy of Gertie's book.

Just got a few seconds to rub together to try it out.

I decided to make the Peter Pan collar blouse.

I unfolded the pattern and traced out the pieces I needed onto craft paper. I used cans of food to weigh down the paper and keep it in place while I traced. There are only three pattern pieces for this blouse. Gertie teaches how she drafts collars instead of just giving you the pattern piece. Brilliant! I spent the whole day playing with shapes and sizes until I had things looking the way I wanted them.

I decided to make two collars in contrasting fabrics. I like the look. I've seen friends post pics of blouses they've found with this collar. (I'm still blaming you Elizabeth Lee!) It feels feminine and frilly.

Here's the front of the blouse..... I really do like the collar. 

Here is the back of the collar.... you can see I need to work on my pattern drafting a bit. The back of the collar pieces overlap, but I don't really mind. I'll know for next time to keep that overlap measurement in mind. I love the little green buttons that I found in the button stash.

Here's the whole blouse on a hanger.....

Doesn't do it justice just hanging there empty like that.

All those roses will take a bit of getting used to.

Feels a bit Daisy the Clown to me right now.

Maybe with a jumper and cardy to break them up I'll like them more.

Just wanted to say thanks to the lovely Gertie. Love this book and can't wait to try out all of the many vintage and retro looks you've recreated in this fabulous and instructional book.