Monday, 21 March 2011

V&A Ring Update

I've had the exciting news today that my ring has been shortlisted for the V&A Inspired by... competition. I have to take it to the V&A on Friday, and I guess they look at it (so far they have only seen photos of it). And I see what happens next. I'm happy though.

Wednesday, 16 March 2011

Silver Jewellery

Something else I've been working on recently - a commission for a friends birthday. Got it back from hallmarking yesterday, so its had its final polish, and will be handed over later today.


It was quite fiddly to make, but not too difficult, just a little time consuming.
(The dot in the top left is a speck of dust inside the camera lens - the only way to get it removed is by sending off for a clean - and I haven't got any lovely photo editing software that I can remove it with. And the thought of being without a camera for a few weeks is what is really putting me off doing it.)

Saturday, 12 March 2011

PTI playday!

Well our PTI playday is almost here. There is a group of us on ILWS that have arranged to get together and do a shoebox swap - we each design a card/project and put all the supplies in a shoebox for making that project (enough for one each). Tomorrow we (mostly all) get together to make our projects - a few will be playing from home as they could not make it along.

My card is shown below


And it can be made either way.


Card, ink and ribbon, all stampin up.
Stamps and dies all from PTI
I made some card candy too (little 'elements' that can be stuck onto a card) - but don't have a picture of that. Perhaps after tomorrow I will have one to show.

Friday, 11 March 2011

PTI Challenge Day 2

Well its day 2 of our challenge, and today, rather than taking inspiration and producing a card, I did my best to copy Nicole Heady's card below (original post by Nicole is here - scroll down a bit for this card).


Anyway, this is my version. I don't have the exact polkadot stamp set used, and rather than tearing a page from a book I stamped the written background.

I'm pretty pleased with the result. I'm getting alot out of these challenges - finding ways of using stamp sets I already have, and dies. It really makes you think about how with a little adjustment, you can get by.
Not sure I'll do tomorrows challenge (at work all day), or Sunday's (having a fun 'playday' with some fellow stampers. But I might do a 'catch up' on Monday. Just need to pick at least one project per day to find inspiration from.

Thursday, 10 March 2011

PTI Challenge

There is a group of us over at ILWS that love PTI products, but this month we are trying to resist the new release stamps and dies, so have challenged ourselves to create something that takes inspiration from the release projects, using current stash that we already have.

This is the first card by Nicole Heady (her orignal post can be found here)


And my slightly more muted version - I made a little mistake in the stamping, so had to change the orientation, so I could stick my sentiment over the top to hide it! A very simple card, that really didn't take long to make at all.

And the next card by Nicole that I took my inspiration from:


And my card, agian in soft colours. Had to make my own gingham pattern, using some distressed stripes, and instead of using the simple framed shape (not yet released), I used mat stack 4 die and stamp set, and Fillable Frames 12 for the sentiment. I've loaned my flower die to someone, but managed to find this felt flower I'd had hanging around to use instead.


It was a fun challenge. And I'm going to try pick a project from the next few release days to take inspiration from too. Hopefully will take enough of the shine off the new stuff for me to not want to go straight out and buy it! At least for now.