Tim Holtz Configuration Box Day

So here it is... the money shot, as they say!!!! What a great bloke, super teacher and funny man extra-ordinaire.. so nice to have his photo taken with us all, through the day and to sign books, cards and even the configuration boxes we made... He even noticed my steampunk necklace and said it was quite something!!! How great was that...

 This was our wonderful starter kit... this Vagabond sticker is pretty rare... great stuff eh!!! Below is the whole table full of kits - large configuration boxes and the feet for them.

 Here is as far as we got before break, ie two hours or so... we fitted out each little box (bar 3)  with their papers and taped each one to its neighbours. We distressed with ink and a wonderful ancient gold mica spray, which gave everything a great shimmer as it dried. After break, we were given all the goodies to go into the box... a wonderful little calico bag, packed with stuff!!!

A birdcage, buttons, tickets, a doll, flowers, a reel, filmstrips, glass bottles and on and on.. it was very interesting and exciting... yes, that little pink thing in the middle is a toy car... so below is my finished on the day box.

I added a couple of my own pieces, such as chain and a grungepaper rose, and then put the front lid on. I intended to put the four feet on later, but changed my mind, because you would not be able to get into the box again to switch the flickery light on... yes, just above the dolly is the battery operated tea light, which looks great when it's on.

and here it is, as finished, behind it's bit of screen with an Egyptian metal piece and beads... the flickery light looks so jolly!!!

 Here are all my little boxes, one by one. This one has the small pink car in it... so sweet.

 This box has buttons, from my stash, and pen nibs from Tim's bag of goodies. The capital F was made with the new double grunge board pieces and letters, painted, sanded and distressed.

 This reel is authentic, a real  (opps, sorry!!!) one from times past... I was impressed with this.Some people had different shapes, but all were genuine cotton reels.

 The white doll is one from Tim's new stash - a bit scary but just right for the boxes. There is a new lock in there too, with a peice of measuring tape. The roses in the next box are Prima from my own stash, and the bottle has a chain and pearl from Tim. The bottle top is upside down to show the cork side, rather than the printing.

 The 65 is my age just now, made in the same way as the F... love that technique. I added a button and a resin heart, coloured with mica powders...

 Everything here was from Tim, except for the chain inside and outside the bottle, and the tiny flowers in the foreground... I LOVE the birdcage, and wish I could get my hands on some more...

 The game piece was in my bag, but the metal sun is my own.

 Love this fat little bottle with the pearls inside. Behind it is a painted oval with one of my grunge paper roses on it... so pleased that the tape picked up the "chocolat" word to add to the decoration..

 This last compartment contains a small vial, full of beads, from my home stash, and the cork is the one from the bottle where I substituted the pearl and chain tassel. The studs are brads, pressed into the double front seam of the box.

So here, then, finally, is my finished box, all decorated and done. I could not photo with the front on as there was too much glare, but I have the corners at the bottom now, and a foot on each top side, sticking out horizontally. From the resulting brackets.I have hung some thin chain and a crown... looks really good. What a fab project and how very creative Tim made us all feel... it was great to let go, and just put stuff where it went, without considering every piece like I normally would, as an anal Virgo!!!. Have another smaller box to try for myself now, and have bought two new big ones to decorate for my grandsons for Christmas... looking for papers now and small bits to put inside... Have a go at a configurations box - they are really good fun!!!
Thanks for looking
Love and light
Frankie

He even signed the back of my box!!!

and finally... two of my reprobate friends -

WOYWW - Still Making, No Change!!!

 Well, it's come round again, that Wednesday we all love to look around at each others' work... kindly hosted by Julia, so please follow this link if you are new to snooping!!! Thanks to those who visited last week and left such lovely comments. I am afraid NOTHING has changed as to the tidyness of my desk!! Just even less space to work in, but then I have slowed down a little, and notmade so much!! This is the only picture this week. I have been making a steampunk bracelet to go with the neclace and earrings I made some time ago... I have also done some more zentangling, and still enjoying that too, but will post that separately, later.

I watched Tim Holtz avidly yesterday on QVC, as many of you did I expect, and kept thinking of the workshop on Friday!! I leave poor Freddie to his own devices and see Cynthia (RainbowLady) and other lucky peeps for a really exciting day...
Thanks for looking
Love and Light
Frankie
xx

Diva #9 - Zentangling - Second Challenge and with my Grandson!!

 My beautiful older grandson is 6, rising 7, and loves to craft and draw with me... I showed him zentangling last week when he was here with me because of sickness... he sat all afternoon and had a go. His 2 pieces are above. He used pencil first - he HATES making mistakes and demands perfection from himself (now I wonder who he takes after there then!!! , poor little soul...) but then he realised it would be ok to try, so he used one of my pens - well two actually, as he realised he needed something a bit fatter to colour in the black space!!! I think he did a great job!!

 Here are a few of my efforts this week, trying out a new pattern from the Diva herself!!! She made it up sitting in the hospital with her darling Artoo, who was very poorly...so it's called artoo. She challenged us to use it this time in our tangling, so I had a go... I think I am getting a bit more fluid in my movements. Anyway, I am still LOVING it and the gentle discipline it gives me...

This was last night's effort... a larger square to start with, being about 5"x5" instead of 3" as above... I just let the artoo grow right through the middle and the rest just fitted snuggly round. It's interesting to note that some squares are solid but some are empty in places... I wonder why that is??
Thanks for looking and I hope my new zentagling folks like it!!
Love and Light
Frankie
xx

WOYWW - An Inspiration Book for my Daughter

The Inspiration Book for Miranda... theme is Butterflies

This is the floor to my left side...

This is the front of my own Inspirarion Book, the first couple of pages of which can be seen below, a couple of posts down...

Oh Dear, what a terrible mess, there is stuff everywhere, no matter how I tidy!!! I need to get the boxes and stuff back on the shelves and tidy the floor up, or I won't be able to get ito the room at all.... thing is there is so much creativity going on at the moment, I feel I don't want to stop, as I might not get going again!!! Reading on the ArtsyCrafts group about people practising for the Sir Tim day NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!! EEK... whoops to practising and whoops to it being next week!!!!

 This is the first page spread in Miranda's book... I have used some Mariposa  and K&Co papers plus plain coloured cardstock. A nestie shape is the hinge for each page.

 The butterflies down the sides here, are the pull-outs for each large tag in the envelope pockets. Each large tag will contain an inspirational saying, to lift her spirits and help her out when she feels the need... she so enjoyed thumbing through my book, I could not resist the excuse to make another one!!! She finally got back to work yesterday, after a period of feeling very low... she has had many set-backs in the last 6 years, any one of which would have made a lesser soul sink!!! I love and admire her so much xxx

This is another spread, with it's two tags, the righthand one is actually the subject of the TIO challenge this week - " paying Spring forward". I do hope she likes this book and gets help from it, from handling and reading it... Thanks for looking and have a great week... for those who wonder WHY on earth I would shame myself showing such an untidy workspace, pop over to Stamping Ground to see our queen Julia, whose fab idea this snooping was!!!

Love and Light

Frankie

xx

Stampman Challenge - Hearts

As many of you know I am addicted to all things Sir Tim, as are many millions around the globe... it's only a couple of weeks now to his masterclass, and I am very much looking forward to it. This this in mind, I simply had to do something different this time for the Stampman challenge, HEARTS, so I melted black UTEE in my meltpot and poured it into a largish heart mould. Then I decorated with mica powders and the cogs, sprockets, spinners and keys etc. as you can see, and mounted it on bronge coloured metallic card popped through the cuttlebug... had a GREAT time, but was a little late posting - sorry team, had an odd, poorly, hosptially week this week with myself, Freddie and Jayden all being ill...  The piece is just for fun, so thanks for looking
Love and Light
Frankie
xx

My Inspiration Book - a few pages to tease!!

Here, above, is the front cover of my newly finished Inspiration Book... Some of the flowers are handmade by me, for example the large rose on the ribbon... The two smaller roses are mine too, but the others are Prima... that ribbon is the closure mechanism with velcro to keep it shut. The ribbon is also special, as it is from the ones we had for our handfasting - not the actual one, but from the reel... There is a chain through the spine with several charms and beads etc... That spine is made from Claudine Hellmuth sticky back canvas again, coloured with colour wash and glitz spritz, sprayed through that fab large mask from Sir Tim. The paper backing is overprinted japan journey from Dove of the East. The die-cut keys are also from Sir Tim.

 This is the first full page spread. The pages are made fro C5 recycled envelopes, covered with papers, mostly from a stack by Sir Tim... they are just so vibrant and colourful. The photos have come out rather pale, in fact. Each envelope is attached to the others by a shape, die cut from Spellbinders on this occasion. Most of the papers for these hinges are from the postcard size Once Upon a Time from DCWV...You only stick down a little way so you can fit tags behind the edges. So there are two main tags on each page, then others are tucked away in other places, for example below...

This double spread has it's two main tags, under their central holder, but on the right hand side you will see an extra pocket. Inside there is yet another tag, and often there is another hiding behind the flap, when it's opened. Every envelope has a cut out semi-circle, with a flower on it. When you pull the flower, there is yet another larger tag, decorated on each side. You can see, then, there is a great deal of space upon which to put my inspirational sayings. Many of them are stamped, but some were written on the computer, then decorated. I used meltdust paper for those, but was disapponted that I could not stamp and decorate it as I would have liked.  Below, I have shown you the details of these two pages.

 Here above, you can see the backs of the first two main tags. It was such fun finding sayings to match stamps, if they were not related, so to speak...

This large sheet is the first side of the first envelope centre tag... a wonderful stamp from PaperArtsy, with a word stamp from Sir Tim...  When turned over, you can read the tag below...

This one is from the fabulous plate from Elusive Images about artistic affirmative sayings. Here you can see how the large tag slips into the centre of the envelope centre pocket. Below, you will find details of the second full page spread with that extra pocket...

The pocket has been turned back to reveal another tag stamped with a PaperArtsy stamp, and held in place with more ribbon from our handfasting set... this time a yellow one.

These are the backs of the two tags with doors on them... the one on the left has three adage tickets from Sir Tim, and the one on the right is printed from a Darkroom Door set called doors... the birds are from elsewhere, but I can't remember where just now!!

The last tag to share with you just now is to be found inside the loose pocket, and is stamped with another inspirational saying, with one of my heart ticket stamps, which is a great set of eight, and there are others scattered throughout the book. 

Well that's  all for just now... I took 50 photos, and you would get bored (if you are not already!!!!!??) if I did anymore just now... The whole book creaks and jingles in a satisfying and somehow calming way. It has been a labour of love to make it and I am already enjoying thumbing through it... Hope you have enjoyed what you have seen so far...

Thanks for looking

Love and Light

Frankie

xx

Zentangling - My First Challenge #8 Heart +2

The Heart of the Matter

Here is another zentangle... I am hooked, as I told you last time, and have found a wonderful community who have started a challenge. Here is the blog of I Am a Diva, who runs this one. She has a young babe who was prem and has had many problems... this week was to make a piece for him, sending positive vibes, and with heart... also to use 2 tangles from previous challenges. So I have used the ixorus, which you have seen me do before, and orbs, which is the balls in the bottom right corner.

I am so inexperienced, but I hope this offering is acceptable!!! It was made with little Artoo in mind, anyway, hoping he keeps strong and fighting... So much wonderful work on this challenge blog community, it is well worth a look... ENJOY

Thanks so much for looking, and please comment if you have time and inclination
Love and Light
Frankie
xx

Zentangling!!! Totally Tangled...

OK!!! I have found yet another new passion, and a new project to get involved with!!! From somewhere, the other day in bed with a poorly tum after coming home from Gran Canaria!!! I found  a zentangle... never seen them before and got hooked straight away... well many of you know JUST what I'm like!!!

I had to have a go so sat and looked at different tangles, after I realised they had names and everything!!! And got completely engrossed in their beauty and intricacy...

The tag was made for TIO DragonsDream challenge this week... but as I demand at least one real stamp, I used the face as the centre and tangled round it... I wanted to try colour so used a big and juicy pad with a brayer to add some... think I should have left it black and white... (???)

As I looked at the web more and more, I found challenge blogs and Certified Zentangle Teachers who make up these tangles, and the latest is ixorus, apparently... so here are my goes at interpreting it!!!I shall try again and make them even more adventurous, but I am really pleased with these first efforts...

This last one is full size, that is a square of  about 5" x 5"... Apparently, there are conventional sizes too, but I think you can please yourself for a start!!! Well, I am anyway!!!... Here I tried some more shading to try to get the rolling feeling my pen strokes have created.. clearer IRL than on the scans... I also want to get a little more free with the form, and not be stuck with the square format... that's for tonight, sitting in front of the TV!!! At least I can craft and not leave Freddie by himself... off to get an SD card reader now, as the one I have keeps killing my computer, and I want to download the hols photos, so I can get on with a painting of a great village we found, called Aguimes...

Thanks so much for looking

Love and light

Frankie

xx

PS why not have a go and leave your efforts over on my TIO challenge???!!

Stampman Challenge - Oriental

Here is my DT piece for this new Stampman challenge... Its a reworking of a card I made some time ago, but loved and I wanted to try it in different media... so I have used Claudine Hellmuth canvas (my new fave stuff!!) and promarkers to colour the lady. Where I used bamboo before, this time I used a fab pagoda... pity I can't take a straight photo!!! Why not pop over and have a go, it's a great challenge with super prizes...

Thanks for looking
Love and light
Frankie
xx

A New Book and WOYWW

Well, here I am, in person, when I expected to be on my way to Tunisia for a little break!!! Opps... they decided to make a revolution, so we are not going now!!! have to do something else instead... but not just now. Oh well.!!!

Here is my desk today, then, with a new book project on the go. I am making an inspirational book for myself, with good sayings and thoughtful pieces to inspire me when I need to consider and reflect... got any good ones for me please??

These are a couple of tags for inside, waiting for the inspirational sayings... I have some Elusive Images "Artistic Affirmations" to stamp, and added one of them to the tag you can see herenext to the lace. It is for my challenge blog too, this week, so pop over and have a go yourself!!

Above is a glimpse of the front cover in it's unfinished state. It is an envelope mini, but bigger than the last one I made, and hinged in the same clever way as before... thanks to followthepapertrail lady!!

 These are a few of the flowers I shall colour to add to it. The white ones were a birthday pressie from my friend Rainbow Lady, Cynthia... thanks for them.

 A very quick glimpse into the inside and one of the pages waiting for it's embellishments and tags with wise words. I have added some extra little pockets on some of the pages...

This is a close up of the tag made for TIO on DragonsDream, but I might alter it a bit to add it to my book. The main background is fabric - canvas from Claudine Hellmuth... I am loving that stuff, and have covered the binding of the outer cover of the book in it too... it takes the color wash from Ranger so well... and the glitz spritz from Stampman...

Dont forget to visit the fabulous Stamping Ground blog of our Queen Julia, to see why we are all showing the details of our desks... it a great snoop and very inspirational... Sorry not to get round many of you last week, guys, will try harder today, as I am not now going away!!!

Thanks for looking

Love and light

Frankie

xx