My Creative Spirit (Blog Archive)

Tom, Susan and Holly What a fabulous day had by all at Sizicraft, Stockton on Tees, getting crafty with Graphic 45.  It was lovely to meet Susan (Sizicraft) , Tom AKA Mr Spodgeaway  and the grogeous baby Holly and all the ladies and gent who came along to make the project of the day with GRaphic 45"s French Country, Bird Song and Secret Garden papers. Here's everyone hard at work making their Zig Zag albums. Tune in to Tom on Create and Craft TV on Tuesday 2nd July for shows at 2pm and 6pm for more Splogical Inspirations. Here's the watch live link:  http://www.createandcraft.tv/ShowGridView.aspx .  Just click the create and craft button on the right of the page. Look forward to seeing you all again very soon :-)

Steampunk Spells Clock - Graphic 45  I couldn't resist having a go at an altered clock using the amazing balloons from the new Steampunk Spells collection thats just come out.  I decided to work with just two colours on this project, a clock face using one of  Robs MDF blanks. The face is painted with Paper Artsy chalk acrylics, they're fabulous to work with (details of which ones I used are below), and then masked and subtly over stamped the painted surface with brick wall effect and script text.   Next I cut out a few balloons, (they're just gorgeous and so detailed), flowers and clock faces from the new Steampunk Spells paper collection by G45 and some Alterations and movers and shapers cogs and a key that I sprayed with bronze and turquoise glimmer mists to give them a rusty sheen.  I arranged them all and stuck them in place with tacky glue.  The larger balloon is raised up on foam dots but is low enough for the hands to go round. The numbe...

What a fab time we had last night with the Boss and 22000 others lol!!!  That man is truly amazing. He shared 3 1/2 hrs of non stop music with no support and no gimmicks.  At 60+ he is seriously impressive.  Am now totally converted having heard over 30 of his songs back to back.  Loved them all and the East Band too :-)  I think this is the first project I've put up on my blog using the new Bohemian Bazaar collection new out from Graphic 45 although behind the scenes all of us on the Design Team are beavering away on projects for the Graphic 45 stand at CHA with this collection and Steampunk Spells too. Bohemian Bazaar - Graphic 45  I used one of the paper mache gift bags from Hobbycraft here in the UK as the base for this striking gift , base coated it with Turquoise Kaisercraft paint and then decorated it using one sheet of 12 x 12 paper, some May Arts lime green and blue ribbons, a chip board piece and cut apart from the collec...

Is coming to the Ricoh Stadium Coventry A couple of years ago we were on the famous open top London bus tour when at 7pm prompt the bus ground to a halt, the driver got out and told all of us passengers that we'd have to get off as he'd finished for the day. It was really odd but we did as he asked along with about 50 foreign tourists who were all really confused.  The driver had stopped outside Hyde Park and who should be playing but Bruce Springstein.  How fluky, Andy is one of his biggest fans so we stood for a while and listened before wandering off to grab some dinner.   He's always wanted to see him but never thought he would so hearing him was a second best.  At the weekend Andy happened to mention that Brucie was coming to the Ricoh, Coventry on his World Tour this week, and one of the guys was going from work.  Little did he know I'd booked tickets for us both to go on Thursday.  Whoooopeeee!!!  REally excited we told the children. ...

Hi every one  Some of you will have spotted that May 31st saw the launch of the first Ali-Craft blog challenge but if you haven't the theme for this first challenge is "Anything Goes".  To find more about how to enter, read the rules and upload your entry just click the link below.  The closing date is 29th June so there s still a few days left to get crafty.  This months fabulous prize is a 12 x 12 and 8 x 8 Secret Garden paper pads by Graphic 45.  WOW!  says the G45 DT member :-)    The Ali-Craft blog Challenge No 1  Here's some ideas from the design Team to get your thoughts going.   Altered Canvas by Heidi  Blog Card by Ali  Challenge Card by Andrea  Challenge card by Barbara  Challenge card by me AKA charliejones2686 :-)  Good luck guys if your entering :-) C

Perpetual Calendar - French Country Collection by Graphic 45  Well it's back to work Monday everyone, how time flies.  I hope you all enjoyed your weekend.   Here's a really useful altered calendar to make so you can keep track of the date.  It's really quick to make, easy to cover  and small enough to use up left over papers from other projects.  I picked this wooden calendar in Trago Mills the last time we were in Falmouth.  It 's a great place to get hold of cheap blanks to decorate and if you're down that way worth a visit.  The blocks were stained with watered down green acrylic paint which give them a worn look.  Distress stains also work really well as they soak into to he wood leaving the numbers to stand out. The main frame was painted with black acrylic paint and once dry covered in  papers from the 8 x 8 French Country collection by G45 and the co ordinating 6 x 6 patterns and solids that go with the collection.   ...

Rob painting our egg racks ready for decorating  Thanks to every one who came along to the Graphic 45 and MDF workshop at Robs showroom on Saturday located in the beautiful surroundings of Pleasely Vale Mills.  We had a great day covering his fabulous blanks.  Thanks also to Rob and Ally for all their hard work that went nto making the day a great success. We'll be arranging another workshop so keep an eye on my blog for details :-) 

Ladies Diary Picture Frame by Sian and Aime Had a lovely eve last night with Andys Twins, Sian and Amie.  They wanted to decorate a picture friend for their cousin who's getting married later this month and had asked if I'd help them decorate it.  Siany had been onto the G45 blog done her research and found some inspiration from some Ladies Diary projects and wondered if I had the papers. ?????  Of course I said, new pads haven't long arrived in our DT Box, so we took the frame apart, raided my stash and this is what they made.  Gorgeous isn't it. xx    Have a great Wednesday everyone :-) 

Kraft Reflections Album - Graphic 45  Where did that weekend go?????  Am I the only one who thinks the year's flying by way too fast.   It's only a few days until Mid Summers Eve and we've had next to no summer, or have I just missed it because I've been crafting lol!!     I did get to really chill out this weekend, which after a really hectic week of work, college, awards events, meetings and oodles of e-mails and phone calls was just what I needed. A fabby G45 Dt box also arrived with all of the new paper collections in too, and after much stroking I couldn't resist getting out the scissors and making a start on my CHA projects for the G45 stand over in Vegas in July.  I was hoping to go this summer but due to other commitments it doesn't look like thats going to happen which is a shame.  Would loved to caught up with so many people, but there's always January so fingers crossed. Anyway today is my turn to be officially introduced onto the 20...

Steampunk Spells Card - Graphic 45 What a fab surprise to come home to tonight.  A totally amazing DT package from Diane, Charee Amie and the team.  The two new collections that arrived were, as I'm sure you know if your a G45er Bohemian Bazaar and Steampunk Spells.  Each very different from the other, a new colour pallet for Bohemian Bazaar and a new halloween collection with Steampunk Spells.  The detail in each of the papers is once again incredible. These collections are a definite "must have" to add to your stash. I had an uber creative moment earlier after a ropey start to the evening, and,  starting with  the cut apart  of the Steampunk lady from the 8 x 8 pad made this card to get a feel for how the elements worked together.  I should know they always do lol!!!   For a closer look at whats coming our way here in the UK click the video link below. Have a great weekend every one :-)