Junker Jane Style Art Doll

I've spent this Sunday afternoon playing with fabric and my sewing machine.  I wanted to have a go at making the Junker Jane style art dolls after making the ATC's a couple of weeks ago.  Now I have a stash of fabric which have been left over from other sewing projects and like most artists I hate throwing things away and in this I found some light cream/beige material to make the body.  I added some lace, buttons and a fabric flower which I painted with some acrylic paint.  The arms and the patch on the body are bits of canvas that I painted.  I used embroidery thread for the mouth using back and chain stitch.

The one thing I found with the body material is that it frayed which meant that it didn't hold very well when sewn up - hence the grey patch on the face and the odd stitching on the side.  It was a good learning process as I've never made a doll or any other kind of soft toy.  I think this one will be living with me so it doesn't matter if it's not perfect.

Where's The Party Tonight?

At my house on the dance floor that's where it's at hahaha.  Can you tell I had fun dressing up my skeletons?  They will be leaving me and going to a new home soon so I shall make the most of them while they are still here with me.  I might even make a few more just because I can and have a few more left over.

I managed to get these from Asda a little bit pricier than I've paid in the past but the head and legs are jointed so they do have some movement to them.  My initial idea was to dress them up in a sari but it didn't suit them and didn't have the right look so I ditched that idea and came up with this.  The skirt is made from some left over flowers from the outfit I made for my cousins wedding.  The beads I have a whole stack of so there was no problem finding something to make some bling with.  The bindis are little gems and the nail polish is actually polish from my stash.  

The Ghouls wanted in on the party to hehehe

#blogtoberfest14 day 20

Anita

Time For Tea

It's coming up to that time of the year when the masks come off and the broomsticks come out.  Of course I'm talking about Halloween whether you embrace it or not it seems to be getting bigger every year.  I'm all for having a good time..................or should that be a ghoul time hahahaha. 

A member over on one of the artist trading card sites where I'm a member is hosting a trade/swap named "Odd Ball Ornaments".  The aim is to make unusual ornaments which can then be hung on your Christmas tree or around the house............really wherever your heart pleases.  I've had several ideas including altered skeletons, eyeballs etc.  One of them includes altering foam ghoul shapes.  I found some in a local pound shop they are light weight and having a blank canvas to work on is great.

I've used some spray inks, acrylics, stencils, rubber stamps, buttons and one of them even has some watch parts.  

Spray inks and stenciled designs

The one on the left is completed and the other one I need to add some words.

I'm linking up with

 Handmade Harbour for Handmade Monday

Shells In the Bush for Blogtoberfest14

Inky Dinky Doodle for Sunday Sentiment 

Claire Justine for Creative Monday

Do go and visit the above blogs as they have some fantastic artist and blog links.

Anita

Travelling Journal

Phew what a busy week it's been.  I've had a day out just for me then a day out with some ladies for a networking lunch, Saturday I went to the Stitch and Craft Fair in Manchester and today I added my page to a travelling journal.  

What is a travelling journal?  We are a group of ladies from all corners of the world (UK, USA, Germany) who are collaborating in each others journal.  The idea is to make a piece of art in each others journals by posting them to each other over a course of a couple of weeks - in an ideal world this would work perfectly but as we are reliant on our postal system to get the journals safely to their next destination it we have had a few hiccups along the way but this has added to the experience.

Our journals measure 5 x 7 inches everyone has sent a page to be worked on by each member of the group.  Some have made specific requests, some have given an idea of what they would like to have for example their favourite colours.  But the main focus is to put our own mark on the journal.

Here are some of the pages I've worked on.

Anita

I'm linking up with Handmade Monday and Creative Mondays  I hope you'll pop over to these lovely blogs and see what other crafters are getting up to.

Handmade Harbour Mid-Week Paper Craft Party - Happy Hearts

Oh the weeks are flying by.  Here I am running late with my card for the Handmade Harbour design team challenge.  I'm on the last minute this week as I'd been preparing for a textile workshop and had a craft fair on Saturday which I'd booked months ago.

This weeks theme is Happy Days (the title reminds me of the Fonz does anyone remember watching Happy Days?  I used to love it.  Anyway I'm going off topic.  So I've been wanting to use the heart stamps but the opportunity hasn't arisen until now.  I love hearts and I think this stamp fits in perfectly if you are using to make wedding cards, gift tags or invites.  The stamp is very versatile and as the hearts make me 'happy' I thought I would use it for the challenge.

I've used Koh-i-noor water colours to paint the heart, added some tiny pale blue heart buttons and then added some buttons onto wire and attached them to the back of the heart to make them look like they are shooting out of the heart.  The tiny hearts are punched from some background paper I had painted. The background lined paper is some scrapbook paper which I've added some ink with inkpads and a touch of silver glitter to finish it off.

If you would like to see some more of the design teams cards why not pop on over to the Mid-week paper craft party and join in the fun.  

Happy Crafting 

Anita

Handmade Monday #40

I missed last weeks Handmade Monday because I was very poorly I spent 3 days in bed.  I'm slowly getting better still have fits of coughing.  My niece told me I sounded like a trumpet when blowing my nose - I'd say more like a fog horn lololol.  
So my contribution to this weeks handmade Monday is a scarf I knitted for said cheeky niece :).  It's made with Indie wool and done in garter stitch over 15 stitches on 51/2 needles.  I've added some dangly bits to each end and sewn some buttons along the bottom at the request of my niece (she chose the buttons) - she's a creative little thing 6 going on 16.

As you can see it's quite funky and colourful.

Thank you for popping over to read my post and if you would like to see other creative peoples work why not pop on over to Wendy's blog to see what everyone else has been up to.  

Please do leave a comment it's always nice to hear what you think.

Anita