Secret Garden Specimen box for That's Crafty

What's the secret???
Open it up to find gorgeous garden finds :D

I have used Graphic 45 Secret Garden stamps and papers on a Tando covered printers tray to create this pretty vintage style specimen box.

For all the deets visit the That's Crafty blog HERE and to go shopping visit the site HERE :D

here's a close up of the inside ....

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Ellie's canvas...

 Morning everyone, thought I would share the canvas I decorated for my great niece Ellie's christening yesterday.
I had thought about giving a different gift, but having spoken to Ellie's mum she would have been devastated if I hadn't given her a canvas to go with Reece's LOL

To be fair, its hard to go wrong with such a cute pic isn't it LOL :D fairy babes are my fave :D

I started by painting the canvas with 3 different colours of acrylic paint wiped on with a dry baby wipe. i love the way they blend and you don't have such a heavy coat when applied like this.
I searched through my scrapbook papers until I found the perfect combo, I think the shaped piece is Penny Lane by MME and the floral print is out of a baby girl paper stack - possibly DCWV but the front cover was missing LOL. The piece under the name was a very old piece left over from an old project when I first bought my cricut, which just so happened to be perfect for this project :D

They were single sided papers and I didn't really want white edges on my torn paper, so I inked the back first to colour them before distressing them with my TH distresser and more ink :D

The lace is coloured with distress reinker in a mister, then glued on with Claudine's matte medium.

The pretty flowers were a spray I picked up in Dunelm Mill when I bought the canvas and work so well with the colour scheme.

The photo was printed on to canvas photo paper and I tinted the black area with a little acrylic paint just rubbed on so it was light.
I used rock candy distress stickles on the wings and when dry I highlighted the details on the photo with a clear Sakura glitter pen.
Ellie was wearing a flower headband in the photo so I emphasised this by gluing on little paper flowers, 

I used Fancy Pants and Prima stamps with my Victorian Velvet ink pad which I also highlighted with the Sakura pen.

The letters are gorgeous Pink paislee mistables spritzed with Victorian velvet again.

when everything was dry I added lots of distress stickles randomly and to age the lace etc...
Everything was finished off with a spritz of frayed burlap distress reinker in Frayed burlap.

I hope they like it :D

Julie xx

Sweet dreams are made of this.... **pic heavy post!!

I finally finished my Victoriana/shabby chic dream catcher and I'm sooooo in love with it:D
I used bits and pieces from all over including ebay, Happy Daze, my local craft shop Crafty Workshop (where I bought the beautiful Tilda fabrics I used through out the project :D The moon face is from Graphics Fairy.
I used a lot of Claudines sticky back canvas, and multi matte medium throughout this project, and lots of beads, buttons and objects I have gathered over time :D
Ok, I will just show you the pics...

I think I might have sweet dreams tonight :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Crafty sew'n'sew for Happy Daze

I have had this idea in my head for a while and finally got around to putting it in to reality :D
I started with one of these fab hardboard collage frames and a papier mache torso.

I cut the torso in half and glued it on to the frame with glossy accents, then gave it a few coats of white gesso as a base.

When completely dry I covered the whole thing with pieces of a vintage sewing pattern glued down with Claudines matte medium.

When dry I painted it with a wash of Claudines studio paints in painterly pink and  sky blue mixed with traditional tan to give it a more vintage look.

I love that it has tinted the paper but you can still see the original print :D

I stamped around the edge in archival ink with these amazing BLOCKHEADS stamps

To finish I added buttons and other sewing ephemera and distress stickles.

If you haven't already go and check out all the NEW ITEMS in the shop as Moira has added some lush new lines that will defo have you parting with your pennies :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Imagine....vintage style wooden box for Happy Daze

This week for Happy Daze I have altered one of THESE little wooden boxes with Mady Scrolls Work stamp image

I started by painting the box with a light green acrylic paint and when dry painted over areas of it with crackle glaze. When the crackle was dry I painted over them roughly with white paint - I didn't want to obliterate the green just make it look shabby.

I highlighted the edges with Inka Gold in ROSE .

I stamped the image in coffee archival ink on to a piece of tissue paper and then glued it on to the lid with Claudines matte medium and then coated the whole box with it to give it a protective coat.
I added some torn pieces of TH tissue tape to the top and sides of the box.

I used Glitz stickers for the word "Imagine" inspired by the tissue tape.

I finished it off with a piece of ribbon and buttons glued on with the matte medium and tied a piece of ribbon around the box in a bow.
Scrolls Work stamps are no longer in production so if you would like any I wouldn't wait to long as when they are gone Moira won't be able to restock them.

Don't forget about this months challenge is to try or to use something new. All the details of the challenge and how to enter can be seen here.

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Santas Christmas treat chest for Happy Daze

Well I really need to kick start my Christmas mojo in to gear as I am so disorganised with only being back from my hols less than two weeks!!
I thought I would share this cute idea for an alternative advent calendar which could be decorated to suit all ages.

I have made mine in to a vintage shabby chic style and plan on filling it with little chocolate treats, candy canes and promise tickets - eg. make mince pies, watch a Christmas movie etc...

I used a papier mache chest and covered it with two sheets of Pink Paislee Santas list 12x12 paper.

I started by painting all the edges inside and out with green acrylic paint so that any expose areas wouldn't be left brown.
When dry I painted the edge that is trimmed with red acrylic paint and left to dry again.

I cut the papers roughly to size and then used my nail to give score the paper in to the edges of the box to give me a cutting guide. The boxes aren't exact measurement wise, so make sure your paper is cut to fit the widest points so that you can cut them back to size.I distressed my edges with an emery board and then inked with Broken China distress ink pad then glued them in to place with Glossy Accents - I like to swirl it on then spread it out with my finger so that it reaches all the edges. I like GA for sticking paper on to objects as it grabs and dries quickly.

On the inside of the lid I added a distressed hole in the paper before adhering to the box and stuck a small piece of contrasting patterned paper on to the back to add to the shabby look.

I covered it inside and out and when finished strengthened the hinged section with tissue tape which I also inked with the broken china.

I glued on a piece of vintage lace using Claudine's matte medium - now I have a little tip when using this - make sure you clean the edge of the jar before you put the lid back on. If you don't (like I hadn't) and then don't use it for a while you will have BIG problems getting the lid off!

I also used the medium to stick the charms and prima flower on, as already mentioned its a really good strong glue LOL :D

I embossed some of the pieces with TH alterations embossing folders which I distressed and inked.

My splash of colour on the project is my lovely broken china distress stickles and the distress stain I used on the Adage ticket.

I used some letter stickers I have had for ages on the front of the box and gave them a little bit of dimension with the Glossy Accents. The promise tickets would be a great idea to keep the kids occupied over the Christmas period with ideas like make paper chains, make gingerbread, write a letter to Santa etc...

If you were making it for a crafter you could make little parcels or envelopes and fill them with little embellies - ideaology trinkets would be fabby for anybody taking part in T!ms 12 tags of Christmas. Moira sells fabby taster packs of these too so it needn't cost a fortune.

Or how about filling it with chocolate coins?

If you get cracking you will just have time to make it before the 1st of December :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

I have just finished this necklace and listed it on Folksy HERE - if you are interested don't dally because I might change my mind and keep it LOL :D

Hugs'n'snogs.
Julie xx

Edited to add OMG its sold already!!!

Hidden Trasures

OMG!!!!!! I scrapped LOL :D
I don't think I have scrapped since the last UKS cybercrop - I have just been too excited by the altered art world!!! LOL :D

I wanted a torn wallpaper effect and have the images peeping out as if they had been hidden behind a layer:D

If you want to see more and find out how I made this visit Bubbly Scrumptious HERE :D

Hugs'n' scrappy snogs,
J xx

Tims dimensional technique

I had a play with the technique I spotted on Tims blog the other day. If you would like to see how I made this please visit the Bubbly Scrumptious blog to see my post :D
I had such fun with it I didn't stop there, and can see so many ways to use this effectively :D
Time flies....
Family Values....
.And if your not sure how you could use this on your card making or scrabooking I made this tag with scrap book paper :D - although stick to the thinner stuff as heavy card/paper won't manipulate properly ;-)

Now can you picture the amazing embellies you could make?? or how about a title???
Please link back and show me what you make :D


Wwoooppppise!!! I haven't been back! well the winner of my Bubbly Scrumptious Birdhouse after the name was pulled from the hat was................................................drumrollllllll.................................
Carmen and Craig :D
Thank you to everyone who has supprted me and Hospice at Home :D

Please email me at julie.dandy@gmail.com with your address so that I can send it to you :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
J xx

Bathing beauty Bubbly tag

hi all,
here's this weeks project over on Bubbly Scrumptious :D

My first attempt at beeswax collage using Graphic 45 papers :D
Hugs'n'snogs,
J xx

P.S. don't forget I'mraffling off my first DT project here everyone :D

a few more pieces of jewellery :D

a kilt pin brooch with steampunk-esque butterflies :D











a domino brooch












A vintage car slide brooch










This is a slide brooch/pendant slide with an image of crystal palace











If anybody is interested in these pieces please email me at julie.dandy@gmail.com

Hugs'n'snogs,
J xx