Tutorial Tuesday - Handmade Stamps

Handmade Stamps

I shared with you on Saturday the Handmade stamps that I had made out of sleeping bag mattress foam, and here are some that I made,  It is really easy to create your own stamps and I hope you have as much fun as I did in coming up with your own creations.

Stamp collection made from foam

Get yourself a piece of the foam, this one is approximately 1.5 cm thick. Cut to the size that you require.

I cut mine 3x3 inches as this fits comfortably in the hand and is easy to stamp

Select tools that you are going to make marks, shapes and patterns with

Selection of tools to make marks on the foam

Look through some magazines, books, textiles or around your home for inspiration to create a pattern, I chose this heart paperweight.

Once you have chosen your pattern and shape, cut to size begin to mark the foam as required

Cut a piece of card that will act as the backing for the stamp, I covered the edges of mine with home made washi tape (will show you how I made these in a few weeks:)

Cut a piece a paper the same size as the cardboard and stamp your design onto it.  Stick this onto the back of the cardboard,It will act as a guide to the stamp.  

Stick your creation onto the other side of the cardboard, and let dry

Your stamp is ready to be used!

Do leave your comments and share with me what you decide to create! 

Material Mondays - Crochet Wrist Cuffs

Beaded Wrist Cuff

Crocheting is one of those things you can do almost anywhere, it can be soothing and relaxing.  While I have been nursing a cold, alongside a internet connection that didn't feel like being connected, I have been finding making the stitches and adding the beads quite therapeutic. 

I am quite pleased with my chunky wrist cuff.

it is essentially made with crochet flowers, using cotton twine which is quite economical and very versatile

 I attached the flowers to a base, and then I have used a selection of beads to decorate.

There was no specific pattern or style, I wanted to follow the flow of the flowers, the circular shape 

and I guess this is one of those wrist cuffs that makes a statement all on its own - you need very little jewelry if any

If you are considering learning how to crochet, or any other creative activity check out Craftsy online courses, at the moment they are doing a special offer on some of their classes, and they are offering some free mini courses.Click here.

Patience - Creating in Faith

Every circumstance and situation is meant to change and enlighten us to give us the gifts of understanding to face other situations.  In each we have to really ask ourselves what we are being show in the situation for the lessons and insights can be subtle, easily to see, or hard, we can understand it quite easily or not get it at all.

In all of it we need to exercise patience, just as if we looked at our current life, it took a process and a journey.  We had to open our minds to learning new things, taking the risk, step by step until we were confident.  When we look at a child learning to walk we can see that it doesn't just try for one day and then give up because it couldn't keep its’ balance,  It gets up day after day and keeps going until it can walk.  We too have to look at those examples long forgotten from our childhood, how we learnt, how we were encouraged not to look at the immediate, but to make another step and another until we reached our goal.  You can’t write yourself off, you have to look at everything from a totally different perspective and see where you need to have patience with yourself.

What is your perspective

As I have gotten older I think I have become more patient.  I have learnt to see how my reactions and responses can impact either positively or negatively to a situation. There are so many situations where we have no control over and all we can do is our part, and see how things work out.  I could not control my mother getting dementia, or the progress of the illness, but I can encourage her to do things that can impact on her health and well-being and that might slow down the progression of the illness. 

I also noticed how patience impacted on my creativity.  When I first started out as an artist I felt the need to complete my work in one sitting, I felt that I had failed if I needed more time, not realising that for my process I needed to give myself the time to reflect on what I had done and even leave the piece for a few days, weeks or months even.  I found it very hard in the beginning, but now after growing and giving myself the space no longer feel that urgency to get a painting complete, at one sitting and enjoying the processes. 

Patience - Bookmark holder filled with bookmark of prayers

For me the key is a combination of several things that will lead to the completion or final result. In confidence I will prepare myself for the journey, understanding that there is a process that I will have to go through to get to where I ultimately want to be and as I pick up new knowledge and insights on the way in confidence I will step into that which I have wanted to achieve.

Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established . Proverbs 16:3

A person’s wisdom yields patience;  it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense   Proverbs 19:11

Handmade Stamps - Recycled Projects -

In today's recycled projects I will show you what I did with my sons old foam sleeping bag mat.  I brought the mat when he was about 4 years old and it came in a roll approx 2 x 5 ft, and he has now grown out of it, it had served him well.  After having a clear out I debated over what to do with it, but I wasn't sure that it could find another home.  I cut a small section off in the beginning and experimented with some ink pads and it turned out that the foam is ideal for making stamps.

Foam sleeping bag mat useful for creating handmade stamp designs

I took a range of designs from magazines and doodles that I had done and created my own stamps.

Handmade stamps created from doodles and elements of images 

They are very easy to make and I was able to make a range of designs that I have been able to use in several projects

 If I am doodling or see an interesting design I have been able to transfer the design to the foam and cut it out...

Some designs are simple yet effective

Art Journal with doodle and hot air balloon stamped images

 The doodled pattern and the hot air balloon used in art journal above.  The foam cut really well!

Stamped designs

 A selection of stamped images.  I have used these for backgrounds, in journals and more.  I have been experimenting with faces.

 Using a craft knife or sharp tool you can get really clear results and can add as much or as little detail as required.

I really do love my stamps, and I hope you check back on Tutorial Tuesday and I will give you instructions of how to make your own stamps out of foam.

Gratitudes and Celebration Journal - Week 17 - Hope

Gratitude's and Celebration - Hope

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen..Hebrews 11:1  This page serves as a reminder for me and comes at a time where I have not been feeling physically on point and that also can effect how you see things.

It has been another one of those tough weeks and my thoughts are on my brother Robert.  I was sharing in my memories from home post and the image of me in my room is the room that we shared when we were little until my sister moved out to go to university, and then we both had our own room.

I thought about the things he hoped for and hadn't got to realise, seeing his children grow up and have children of their own.  I thought of my own pursuits and those things I hoped for say 10 years ago, and whether they had been achieved, changed or left by the wayside.  When you take a look back in your own memories can you see the achievements that you have made?

I am grateful today that I still have hope, in all that we have, all that we are, and in the very midst of it.  I can celebrate today, this very hour, the minute that has passed and I can see more than I could yesterday.

As this week draws to a close can you think of what you have hoped for. Do leave a comment and have a blessed weekend!

If you want to see how I made the journal (click here)

Clean - Memories of Home

Memories of Home - Clean

Welcome to Memories of Home, if you would like to find out more information about the series, Click here

Being in a supportive environment is important to our growth as individuals, not everyone has had that opportunity and as adults we try and create an environment that will nurture and bless our children and indeed ourselves.

As children we were given chores to do, and each weekend we had to do our bit. Out would come all the cleaning materials and we would have to get on with the hoovering, dusting and carrying out the rubbish. It wasn't something we looked forward to, but led by my big sister, me and my little brother were kept in check. My sister even drew up a rota for us all to follow and tried to rope my dad into it, but as far as he was concerned the cleaning was our job cause he went out to work every day!

Mothers helping hand

By the time my sister left home to go to university I was able to have a room all to myself and I think I rebelled within the confines of my room and on more than one occasion the messiness became overwhelming and my mother would save the day. I would come back from school and my room would be all tidy and clean. She would say "a place for everything and everything in its place", and I would be more than grateful that I had a my tidy room back.

Organising my space in my bedroom

And right she was! In my studio space that measures approx 6ft by 7ft, I have tried to cram as many things as I can whilst trying to create a sense of space, it can be difficult and making use of wall space and storage ideas is necessary.

Studio space, compact but everything has it's place!

I have had to be really strict with myself about clearing up at the end of the day and enabling me to allow the creativity to flow. Whilst I am not a minimalist, mums example set all those years ago provided the example that in my life now and at home with my family we have systems in place that enables us to appreciate the space that we do have.

I would love to hear what you have put in place in your own home environment that allows you to be organised. I hope you continue to join me on my journey over the weeks, as I share my mixed media houses and look back to the memories of home. I look forward to hearing about some some of your own memories. Blessings and peace to you!

Tutorial Tuesday - Phone Directories Journal

Directories Journal

In today's Tutorial Tuesday I have made a set of 3 journals from phone directories.  These are A5 in size and I began by gluing a selection of pages together because they were so thin.

I covered the selection of pages with either gesso or pattered paper. 

On the front cover I used patterned tissue paper and on the two lower ones I used fabric.

 I made some tags out of the scrap paper and applied some stamps and crochet edging 

 I typed out some encouraging words on card and highlighted specific ones....creativity

For me these books are for you to just let go and play with whatever supplies you have.  These books can look and contain whatever material that you want, you just have to let your creativity loose as there is no right or wrong way, just your way!

I would love to see what you do....until next week 

Material Mondays - Crochet and Fabric

Fabric Journal

Fabric Journal, an assortment of materials decorate the front

I made this particular fabric journal and decided that rather than have paper pages I would make it with fabric pages so that I could not only paint but apply and try out different stitches to the page, or if you wanted to add that piece of fabric that you thought was unusual. 

The pages I have used in the journal have been pieces from material that I either liked the design or ones that I have recycled and painted.  I have also included some crochet to some of the pages.

Buttons decorate back of the journal

The journal measures approx 4x6 inches.  I have included sections at the front and back inside covers to hold sewing supplies, and a mini pocket at the front. 

Journal at work

I guess the journal allows me to continue to play with different materials when and how the mood takes.  

Inside cover with supplies, and crochet detail to page

The journal can be taken anywhere as it has all the things you need contained within it to be self sufficient. When I've practiced a few more stitches and techniques I will let you have a look. Hope if you were considering making one for yourself that this has provided some inspiration.

If you are considering learning how to crochet, or any other creative activity check out Craftsy online courses, at the moment they are doing a special offer on some of their classes, and they are offering some free mini courses. Click here. 

Have a blessed day, see you tomorrow for Tutorial Tuesday.