The Bluebird of Happiness

Back in February as we tramped around the craft Trade Show a few of us got talking about hats- 2011 we felt would be the year if hats, what with Royal weddings and what not. So we decided to each create a new hat an d this is my effort. It has everything except the Kitchen sink on there, a bird house, nest with eggs, a couple of birds and a pile of feathers. I did have fun!You can see the other hats on the Happy Daze Design Team Blog - click the link on the right. There you will find "Matilda's Walking Hat" a Steampunk creation by Carol Fox, "A Bee in Her Bonnet" by Jo Capper-Sandon featuring stamps she designs for Stampotique Originals and "Mad as a Hatter" an Alice inspired piece by Julie Dandy.

Altered Hands

Those who know me will be aware I do love to have my nails painted. Well they only usually look nice for about 5 minutes before I've got ink or paint all over them, but these I might jsut have to look after more carefully. This cunning effect is created by a base colour – in this case “Outrageous Turquoise”, with a layer of a new polish by OPI called "Shatter" over the top and hey presto crackle paint effect nails. I'm loving it. Best get some of those cloves to wear when playing now to keep the nails looking lovely.

Another Mirror

This one I made for my lovely sister for Christmas. It uses Inka Gold paints and lots of pretty things by Prima and Pink Paislee. The little birs is air dry clay in an icing sugar mould painted with Inka Gold - deelishus

Bad Blogger

I have no idea where time goes, one minute it's Easter, then you are wondering where Summer went, then you are caught up in the rush of Christmas and suddenly it's a whole new year. I don't make resolutions but I an so going to try and blog more often this year, well let's face it it wouldn't be hard would it.

I am starting with some Christmas presents I made. I set a rather hard task of making most people something as part of their gift and like last year I did not get a chance to take pics of most things but at least I got some of them. There was something of a theme this year with lots of people getting mirrors. you know those fabby mirrors from a certain Swedish furniture and furnishings chain store that are as cheap as chips, well actually as chips used to be as even they are not that cheap anymore, but I digress, fabby wooden mirrors which scream "alter me " at the top of their splintery little lungs. The first one uses Ten Second Studio Metal in Bronzed God, Gold Nugget and Peacock , embossed with a range of Cuuttlebug folders, Tim Holtz Sissix folders and TSS plates which was then cut into patchwork and stuck on (technical term that!). The flower is also embossed metal, stuck to card to prevent raw edges and cut with the Tim Holtz Sissix Tattered Florals die and finished with and Ideology Fanciful Accoutrements button.

The second frame is painted with acrylic paints and collaged with a corner element from the Pink Paislee Artisan Elements, bling flourish, Websters Pages Cameo, Prima butterfly and flowers and vintage image and buttons from my stash. You can see the reflection of my hands and phone taking the photograph in the mirror - how professional - not!

An Altered Cigar Box

I made this as part of a swap. It started life as a cardboardmini cigar packet. I have used Ten Second Studio metal on the lid with collage and inside there is a wee pin cushion with an image transfer using th

Publish Post

e Claudine Hellmuth sticky back canvas technique.

An Altered Spoon

Having seeen lots of lovely altered spoons I decided it was time I had ago at one. The handle is embossed with distress embossing powder, with a collage image, micro beads and a bird charm in the bowl of the spoon. These spoons come with twist off tops - I think to load Pandora style beads, but I used some from my stash. It was sent to a Forum friend as a RAK.

Kilt Pin and Fob Watch Swap

We have been busy gain on Zuzus forums with a few swaps. My kilt pin birdy is wearing some script embossed metal, seems to me I use metal more and more these days. When I made the fob watch I had in mind the Victorian idea of mementoes of the dead - hence the white feathers like those on funeral horses, unfortunatley the face of my young lady slid a bit in the resin so she is partly obscured by the pearls, but hey I like it, great how in crafting there are no mistakes just creative changes of direction (sometimes though straight in the direction of the bin)! Hope the recipient likes it.