Springtime Tag

Well I'm always a bit slow on the uptake, so having decided to enter March's challenge for Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013, I then decided to veer away from the design brief (ever so slightly. . ) as I've never been one to do as I'm told!

Actually it's my first time entering a Tag, and I have hardly any of the products that were listed, so I decided to do my own take on the theme of 'Springtime'.  I also thought that as I had missed January and February's challenge, I would make March's tag out of three tags.  Can you spot the third?

The large Ranger tag, and smaller tag on top are inked in Picked Raspberry, Peacock Feathers, and mustard seed and squeezed lemonade distress inks.  The beautiful lace border from IndigoBlu is then stamped on top of both tags in Peacock Feathers.  Both tags were distressed with a spray of dettol kitchen spray, I think it's my own new technique, I just couldn't find my water spritzer!  It gave a raised bubbly effect to the tag which I liked.

I stamped a free watch fob stamp from Craft Stamper Magazine, and printed off the words 'Spring Time' and inked around the edges in picked raspberry distress ink.

The seam binding ribbon was coloured with the same distress inks, just swiped across, then I sprayed the ribbon with dettol,and scrunched it up.  I added some vintage lace that I got in a Charity shop, and this gave a lovely feminine feel to the tag.  The moth is from the Grand Tour II stamp set from IndigoBlu, and is coloured by swiping distress inks in the same way as the other pieces.  He also has little wire antenna.

To top my tag, I used a large watch fob bezel from Artist Trading Post, and used distress inks again to colour the bird, sealed with mod podge, and set in jewellers grade resin.  This was left to dry for two days, and then a key, (and the tiny third tag), placed on top, sealed, and again set in resin, to give a layered effect.  I added the words 'Tick Tock' to the tiny tag in fineliner.

The edges of the tag are distressed with Black soot ink, which is a lovely soft black and gives definition.

Hope you like it, I think the colours are lovely, Peacock Blue has to be my favourite right now!

xx


 

Hi all,

It's lunchtime at the day job, and I've realised I've been very remiss in my posting's lately.  This is all about to change!  I had some fantastic news at the weekend, which I can hopefully share with you soon.  Exciting new products to show you for a wonderful company I now have the pleasure of working for in my 'spare' time! (All will be revealed soon.. .)

I have been busy as well, including joining the Design Team for the Monthly Challenge over at Creative Connections

This is a site for all crafter's to get together, and they run the wonderful online 'CraftFest' too, where you can set up a stall for a small fee, and take part.  You can find more information on that Here.
You can also shop to your hearts content, when the CraftFest runs, from March 21st to 24th 2013! 

If you would like to take part in the Monthly Craft Challenge, where you can enter your piece of work for fun, take a look Here.

The monthly Craft Challenge blog can be found Here and is all about February, and LOVE! 

You still have time to get your entries in, just pop across and join the site, if you need any help you can find me or any of the team member's over there, it's a friendly site with so much going on.

If you watch the blog over the coming week, I will add links to the site and other's like it, and will be back with my lovely news from the weekend soon!

The Merfly!

Well Happy New Year everyone, I've been busy letting my mind roam free for a while, and the result is. . . 'The Merfly'.  My first true mixed media Art piece using Polymer clay, Pan pastels, acrylic paints, Stamps, Flitterglu & Megaflakes from Indigo Blu at http://www.indigoblu.com, distress ink and much more.  My inspiration for The Merfly has to give credit to Christi Friesen at http://www.cforiginals.net

She has watch pieces, found objects, springs, brass headpins, and bead caps all set among the polymer clay.  She is dusted with Pearl-ex powder to add a lovely mermaid shimmer, and glazed to protect her and the artwork behind.

Am I going in a different direction?  I don't think so, just fulfilling what I have always wanted to do, design something from start to finish.  From this original piece of artwork, I will be making my own jewellery, using digitally altered parts of the image.

Print's will also be available- 'A Mermaid's Tale'  is the first in the series.  Resin Jewellery will be coming shortly, with added objects, of course!

The reason for posting this is to show how much fun working with different medium's is, in this case, mainly Polymer Clay.  If you want to know more about using Polymer Clay, please visit the British Polymer Guild Website at http://www.bpcg.org.uk where you will find lots of information, and regional groups to join if you would like to have a go yourself.

Now, where is my mind off to now I wonder. . . . . .

Best Wishes,
Nikki

Hi all.

Doesn't time fly when you are having fun?  Or should that be 'working hard'? 

Since my last blog I've been lucky and got the Big Shot I wanted for 10 years or more, AND a sewing machine, given to me by my lovely friend, it was her mum's, and I'm going to take great care of it.  Whether I can actually sew or not remains to be seen.

I am also an Independant Demonstrator for Stampin' Up!, and can provide workshops and fun afternoons with stamps, beautiful cardstock, and more to make fab cards with.  I can also sell these products, if I don't buy them all myself first.

My jewellery is still my first love, and I'm looking forward to the next Craftfest hosted by http://www.creative-connections.ning.com in November.  I'm slowly working up to getting more stock in my Etsy shop, and have just listed this tonight, what do you think?

 

 

Cute isn't it?

 

In the meantime, check out http://thecrystalcavern1.blogspot.ie/ for more information on Craftfest, Creative Connections, and The Crystal Cavern's beautiful Gemstone jewellery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Bargain Shops!

Hi again,

I've been quiet on the blog front, but busy on the work and spending front!

Workwise, Fairy Elephant Design has been advertised in the June edition of Vogue magazine, and even more exciting to me, in Making Jewellery's August edition out now, in the reader's section, with a whole third of a page.  So proud!

On the shopping front, just wanted to share some knowledge, if you are in wales (living or visiting), and can jump on the coastal train, all the way up to Pwthwelli, and back down to Machynlleth, there are some fab bargains to be had.

In Pwthwelli there is a lovely craft shop, and downstairs all manner of art and craft supplies, it's worth seeking out, although I didn't grab the name, it should be easy to ask for.  I could of got lost in there. . .

And in Machynlleth, there are lots of second hand shops, vintage market stalls (weds), and an amazing fabric shop with a great sale on (currently - so hurry!). 

The shops aren't hard to find, and it's more fun wandering round each one I say!

I bought some vintage postcards, water paintbrush, artists pastels, card, buttons, books, acrylic & watercolour paints, fabric (fat quarters), vintage sheet music. . . .oh so much to play with!!!!

Check back soon to see some results. . All I need now is a sewing maching. . . and Sizzix Big shot machine. . .

 

Wow!  Did it really take me from January to now to get over doing the Tax return?  I didn't realise how long it had been since my last blog.

Well, Fairy Elephant Headquarters has been very busy over the last two days.  Firstly to the left, my second piece ever of altered art, using a combination of tools, pictures, charms and found items.  Let me know what you think? 

I will be making jewellery from this art, it's in progress as we speak, I will post pictures when it's all set and ready and polished up.

I used a couple of the pictures from the amazing Graphics Fairy, who tirelessly provides pictures for free, and has a great shop of her own, please visit her at http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.co.uk/ and please respect the terms of use - which are very fair and it's a fab reference site, as well as promoting other crafter's and artists.  She also has some great links to tutorials and supplies sites, so if you want to start making your own unique style of jewellery or craft, this is the place to start.

Well, I'm off to do some more work, and to get an advert submitted for a magazine, more on that later. ..

Have a great day whatever you do.

Best Wishes,
Nikki

Fairy Elephant (that's me that is. . ) 

New Year, New Passion!

It's been a long time since my last blog. .

I've started this new year afresh, and have so much enthusiasm for my jewellery this year.  On February 1st a great new shop is opening, in Coventry, in Ball Hill's Two Tone Village, called Made in Coventry.  Full of local, talented Designer Makers, it brings a great opportunity to purchase something that little bit different, all under one roof. 

I will soon have an online storefront, currently in progress, and I'm going to keep blogging, and pass on tips and advice, and links to sites that have been invaluable to me, and friends with amazing talents, along the way.

So a belated Happy New Year, and now I'm off to fill in the tax return! (groan).