The mojo has returned...

and this is the fairy who brought it back.  I thoroughly enjoyed doing this art journal page and I've been inking, painting, doodling and drawing ever since I completed it yeehaaaa.  So lots to share with you over the coming weeks... this is the beginning of what I hope will  be a long and fruitful arty spell.

The background was created with Dylusions spray inks which are totally lush and so easy to use.

I then used some gesso as a base for my fairy's face, arms and wings before adding acrylic paint.

I am loving re-using my Sakura pens for doodling and water colouring... they are so adaptable and oh so pretty.  Love the sparkle and shine.

See you soon
hugs
Chris xx

Life is short... do what you love....

is the sentiment on this easy peasy bookmark I made.  The words and paper are from Crafty Individuals and for once I thought I would make something for myself which is pretty and practical.

I used a rectangle of paper adhered to card, roughed the edges with an emery board and snipped into the bottom with my scissors to create some fringing.  I cut out the butterfly from another part of the paper...curling the edges over my scissors before adding it to complete the bookmark.

A hole punched through the top and some co-ordinating ribbon and quick as you like... no need to turn over those page edges again.  That's soooo naughty isn't it and a complete no no with our craft books...lol

Hugs

Chris xx

Gothic Arch challenge- Garden sprite and award

This is my contribution for this weeks Gothic Arch Challenge which is 'Garden Sprite' now I'm not quite sure if it fits the mould but I had the best fun doing it. All of the images including the ones that make up the background are from Lisa's altered art. Butterflies and fairies are just two of my most favourite things ever and with the colourful flowers and the cute moon man this is gonna be one of the my most treasured arches...I love it...not that I'm trying to blow my own trumpet you understand. It's just that it's not often that I am completely satisfied with something I've created... I'm my own worst critic and normally have to slap my own wrist to stop myself spoiling something by adding and adding and adding...lol Now I am honoured to have received this gorgeous award (see the butterfly...whoohooo) from one very talented male crafter. Calv has a fabulous blog and inky fingers which turn out many a masterpiece... go visit and see what I mean. He's the only man I know who can turn a piece of fruit or a vegetable into a work of art!! Thanks Calv :)
I don't quite know how many crafters I am meant to pass this on to so I am going to just bring your attention to a couple of special ladies who's blogs give me heaps of pleasure.

Nancy began the Gothic Arch Challenges and is a lady who truly leaves me in awe with her talent for vintage creations and scrapbook pages with stories of her ancestors and her nearest and dearest. One awesome lady.

Beate who is multi talented in many ways with her love of photography and her amazing mixed media/felt creations. Absolutely fantastic

Kath with her endless talent for beautiful cards and wonderful ideas. She always inspires me and along with Budster has brightened up many a day for me with her colourful imaginative creations and has been a great blogging pal to have for myself and many others. Way to go Kath :)

Ok so three's not a couple but well I just can't stop my adding and adding whatever I'm doing... no wonder I always have lots of food on my plate....lol

I could go on and on with this award cos every blog I visit... to me is the best... but I would be here for ever so don't just check out the ladies I have passed this award to... there are lots of blogs in my blogroll and each and every one of them are a pleasure in so many ways to pop by and visit...so do so if you get time and thank you all for each visit you make to mine too... you rock :)

See you soon

hugs

Chris xx

Altered recycled packaging

Wow...where does time go? I've had DG here for the weekend plaguing me to play games with him even though I'm "old...wrinkly... and have got old lady hair" rofl. Good job I don't take it to heart... I still feel in my 20s on the inside, shame the outside forgets and moves on a bit quicker!!

I've spent time colouring in... doing sums (heaven forbid) and playing cars, in between eating totally unhealthy meals and dipping chocolate in a hot drink, just to see who could leave it in the cup the longest, then getting it into our mouths before the melted chocolate was destined to fall into the cup. Oh the joys of being a kid again... even for a few hours...lol

A little while ago an addition to the household decor of a couple of lamp tables produced a couple of these...almost boxes... in amongst the packaging. Now being the hoarder that I am and adding to that, having an electric light moment I just had to keep them until I could find a way to make them pretty. I've been playing for a while now so I can show you what I came up with. Lots of pics cos there is heaps of detail and the photo of the whole thing doesn't do it justice... so I hope you won't nod off and fall asleep on me... well at least until you get to the end of the post. I have decorated both sides of the box in totally different ways but will show you the reverse side another day, otherwise you will be bringing your tents and camping out at my blog for days...rofl

So here goes, this is the top of my box decorated using PM ready made adhesive chipboard embellishments which nicely for me had the compulsory bling already attached...whoo hoooo

More of the same chipboard in the form of a clock face and gorgeous PM Nostalgia warm paper as the background. PM vellum allowed me to create handmade flowers, while the large bling was more from my £shop find.

I decided that I wanted my box to look magical and I wanted to be able to see something new each time I looked at it so I made a paper toadstool but it has a secret....Are you still awake!! lol The secret is the little girl behind the door, the doorknob being a seed bead which will give you an indication of how big she is :) She's waiting to go for a walk in the grass.
The baby Queen of the fairies (from Lisa's altered art) is sitting out in the sun waiting to greet the butterflies as they return from spreading their magic around fairyland.

One sweet butterly (from PM sweet garden papers) returns among the flowers bedecked with jewels (habico bling and silver pen) with a message to all the good fairies (PM love chipboard shapes) because they help her spread happiness all around ;-)
Hope I managed to spread a little myself too... and here is the front view of the finished fairy box... so you can see what it was all about.
Thanks for taking the time to get to the end... I will wait a few days before I show you the other side...lol I DO want you to come back again ;-)

Have a great day.

Chris xx