Recycled Beer Mats

I spent a couple of hours in my studio late afternoon, and made three chunky notebooks with the covers I made in previous posts - and I am actually pleased with how they turned out.

Then as I didn't have much time, I decided to play with some more recycled beer mats.

I had some 'ends' of A4 paper which I had used for one of the books I made so cut that up for - yes - another chunky little book.

The back and front covers (obviously - you don't need telling, but I had to type something to separate the photos!)


The butterfly was printed on acetate. I like the size of these little beer mat books, just right for in a handbag, and great for shopping lists.


Inside the front and back covers, I covered with white paper (although I had gesso'd them you could still see the print through it faintly.).

I coloured it with TH inks using the sponged on method, and stamped the butterfly on.

It was great, having organized most of the unmounted stamps - I could find this stamp so easily!

That's all for today folks.

Hope you had some time to play.

Another BIA book cover

Close up of copper 'shimmer'


I have been so enjoying Jo's technique, that I added more water to the little drop left in the bottom of the mister after yesterday, and used it to make another book cover.

This time I used double the amount of raffia. Sprayed the mountboard twice - letting it dry between sprays. Took off the raffia and gave it a couple of short squirts (technical term LOL) here and there.

Stamped the image in the middle, masked that off, then stamped the wording in sepia on top.

I didn't set out to make lots of note books - but having been inspired to try out new things, and having a free supply of mount board - I thought I might as well combine both and make some books - for fund raising or gifts.

This is the biggest book so far approximately 5" x 7" and is going to be really chunky as I have cut up a thick wodge of A4 paper for it.

So, now that I have used up all the liquid in the mini mister - I shall have to find something else to do next week.

But first I have three notebooks to make with this and the other two covers.

Click to enlarge the photos - you can actually see the effect of the copper Cosmos powder in the 'mix'.

Inspired by Jo Capper-Sandon

Click on images to enlarge.




I just didn't know what to do this afternoon, craft wise, so turned once again to this month's Craft Stamper magazine and had another go at Jo's masking technique.

I wrapped raffia around a piece of mount board and using a mister with ink, water, and copper Cosmic powder in it, I sprayed the board.

Let it dry and then I sprayed again.


I just can't capture the gorgeous copper shimmer. The first photo I took outdoors and the one above I took indoors with a flash light.


This is another one I did - same stamp - but a slightly darker ink - you can see the copper splashes better on this one I think.


I might turn these into a notebook.

I am entering this into the Lots to do challenge the theme of which is 'masking'

Vintage BIA Book

I haven't been up to crafting for a few days - so forced myself to go out into the studio just to relax and play.



And this is the result.

I cut up some mount board - but it was slightly not quite right, so I cut up some more, rather larger pieces.

Then cut up lots of A4 sheets of paper to size - its a nice big very chunky book.

I distressed and inked the edges to tone in with the image.

The image has a nice and tranquil look about it I thought - and quite Spring like - the sun has been out this morning.

It took more than an hour - so technically its not elegible for the One Powerful Hour challenge - but one of the hours was pretty 'powerful' whilst making it! The rest of the time was rather boring doing all the cutting out and clearing up!

ATC 'Life'

I took this photo last night - maybe I should have waited for daylight.

Another ATC inspired by our walk by the sea yesterday.



On mountboard again, sponged blended colour background. Starting with pale blue, then yellow, then graduating down with dark and darker blues, yellow and then brown over that for the sand - and yes the sand was that colour yesterday - wet from the waves.

If the click the photo it will enlarge it to see more detail. The boy is a Paper Artsy mini stamp, and I coloured him in several layers of watercolours, and used flesh colour oil pastels for his face, arms, legs and feet - although it doesn't see to show up in the photo.

I use blogging to keep a visual record of what I have made - disasters and success - just to allowing me to see what worked, what didn't, and if I am improving or not.

ATC Sunshine

Whilst sorting out my stamps for storage, I discovered a Paper Artsy plate that I bought second hand last year.

As we had just got back from a walk in the sunshine on the coast, I thought I would have a go using it.



I cut an ATC out of mountboard and applied and blended shades of yellow red and orange inks, to create 'heat'.

I stamped on the Sun image plate, then painted the 'petals' with Ecoline gold ink.

Once dry I used a Krylon 18kt gold pen on top give extra emphasis on the 'leaves' around the eye. To not only suggest the gold of the sunshine, but also of 'eyelashes'.

I finished it off by outlining the ATC with Krylon gold pen. It looks rather vibrant in the sunlight and really gleams and glitters with the golds.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Fly me to the moon ATC

After sorting out some of my stamps, I tried out one of my 'new to me' second hand stamps and made this ATC. I haven't made any for ages. I am existing on just three hours sleep today, so didn't want to take on too big a task.

As usual, click photos to enlarge


As usual the photography leaves a lot to be desired, this is much brighter in daylight and the image has been embossed with clear embossing powder to make it 'leap' off the page.




I have used mountboard again - a great surface to work on, and have been practicing stippling and blending.