Today I have turned my attention to making tags. I fancy a bit of stamping combined with watercolour painting for a change. Here’s my first effort.
For this tag I used the Crafty Individuals stamp CI-176.
More tags followed;
Crafty Individuals stamps CI-320 and CI-149
After a tough week, I wanted nothing more than to sit and play. Last week, playing was a swimming session and a “run” on my treadmill. In contrast, this week my idea of playing involves lots of lovely paper, card, flowers, ribbons and bows. Stamps and buttons, studs, brads and lace all come out of the stash boxes to (hopefully) make something half decent. It is important for me to play and enjoy some me time as it gives me an opportunity to switch off and regroup with the added bonus of an end product as a reward for my labours.
As you can see, I am not the tidiest of crafters, but a little disorganisation creates an environment in which there is always an element of surprise when creating something. If I can’t find what I need quickly, I improvise and use something else. My creations are therefore constantly evolving and what I end up with often looks nothing like I planned in the beginning. This approach appears to work and if nothing else, keeps me on my toes and always thinking how to adapt. (Much more fun than the dreaded Sudoku puzzles for keeping my mind agile)
There is a saying, “The opposite of play is not work. It’s depression” and I know that if there are days or weeks when I won’t get to play because I am working long days, travelling or staying away from home my mood will deflate very quickly. I now try to pack something in my case so I have something to look forward to after work when stuck in a hotel or faced with a long journey home. I have had very funny looks from my fellow passengers when Decopatching on the train, designing scrapbook pages or knitting scarecrows but I’m used to it and it keeps me sane.
Playing today has resulted in three pictures so far. I found three matching square picture frames in the charity shop during the week and these pictures are just the right size. I’m quite pleased with them.
Decopatch and decoupage come to Iran!
Paper, brushes, glue and brads. Flowers, butterflies, crystals and buttons all woven together make the universal language of play.
Who needs to speak Farsi when you can commune in creativity?
5 year old Parneon loves to play and to make things so Decopatch and decoupage are proving to be a big hit with her. I think it’s the naughty business of being able to make a mess without being told off and you can’t Decopatch or decoupage without getting sticky fingers and bits of paper everywhere. Unlike at home however, I need to be careful that we don’t spill anything on the carpets…….the family heirlooms are priceless and can’t be scrubbed down like my laminate flooring.
Parneon is a lively child and, as both her mum and grandma say, loves to mind other people’s business! She is into everything and is hard to keep track of although if lost she can usually be found in the kitchen munching away at something (lemons are a particular favourite). I am concerned therefore that she won’t want to sit still and Decopatch, or make cards and pictures from the stash I have brought for her. I needn’t have worried as she can’t wait to get started and it looks like the papermache piggy bank, teddy bear, heart box and letter “P” I brought with me will be done by the end of week 1!
I try to temper her enthusiasm for “glueing” by hiding the bear and the box and get her to make some cards instead. She loves this too and within 30 minutes I have 2 cards sitting on my table ready to give to her mum and dad! She loves the stickers, the brads, the paper flowers and butterflies and the stick-on crystals. She also loves the candy, patterned paper and the decoupage Princess with her castle. All I have to remember is to make the cards back-to-front as they read from right to left rather than left to right.
I hope that the stash will last until the end of our holiday but at least I know what to bring next time. More of the same.
Poppyposts 