Wednesday 28 September 2011

Halloween Tin Swap

Halloween is fast approaching!when the ghosts & Ghouls walk by night,and creatures crawl from their graves.
And so when my sister asked me if I wanted to take part in her blogs halloween tin swap I could not say no.
I loved designing my tin to send! but nothing is better than receiving someones else creations.
So here are the beautiful designs from my sister wendy visit her at http://blissangels.blogspot.com







A few picture of my designs x



Monday 19 September 2011

Pippinsnest

Like many crafty people out there,It has been a dream
of mine to one day sell my designs ...
to create a brand that people like and respond too!
And like many out there I had no clue how to get
my ideas up and running?
Then I found in my local bookshop the book
(The Handmade Marketplace)By Kari Chapin
from Storey Publishing.
www.storey.com


This book has helped me so much with interesting guides
to navigating the craft marketplace,
It has helpful tips from fellow crafters that have
started from scratch and built up successful businesses.
The book subjects cover,
Everything from finding inspiration,
Branding your business,
Bookkeeping & business practices,
selling yourself,
The crafting community,
online blogging & websites,
Advertising & Publicity,
Selling at craft fairs,
Selling online,
Selling to the highstreet.

while I am still taking my first little baby steps
into creating my own style.Designing & making product to sell!
Its my hope to bring to you a unique illustrated
charactor biased brand.Pippinsnest

In this book it mentions something called
A Inspiration wire or spot were you can hang things
that inspire you!
for me I found the fabric bunting hanging in my workspace
the perfect place to start one,I also found it
helpful to pin up my designs and work in progress
to help me find a common style/link that flows
through all my designs and so help to create a brand.






I few of the things that inspire me
and are pinned on my inspiration wire!

Include card designs by Cinnamon aitch ltd.
Picnic card range,
Cori Dantini unique illustrated card range.
www.cinnamonaitch.co.uk
coridantinimakes.blogspot.com/

The illustrated artwork of Leanne Ellis,who has a
beautiful range of card & stationery items
available from Santoro.
leanne-ellis.blogspot.com/

The where's Rabbit? card range by the talented
illustrator Emma Talbot.
www.littlebrownrabbit.co.uk (under construction)
littlebrownrabbit.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Little birds of Happiness

While looking at my favourite website ESTY.COM
I found beautifully made dolls and creatures made out of
polymer clay.
alas I have a long way to go until I could design to
such a standard.

I did however make a few embossed little birds using
white sculpey modelling clay, black beads
and an assortment of lace and fabric flower pieces.



Using the lace and fabric flowers to emboss into the clay!
I also added a bit of blue paint to the clay so
I could make little bluebirds of happiness!



Once you've finish designing, bake in the oven for
15 minutes at 130 c(275 f).



I found the sculpey clay a little too soft to work with
as you smooth one side the other is covered in finger prints!.
I would be interested if anyone out there
has any tips? X