One for the little ladies...girls "secrets purse" tutorial.

Hi all....what do you think of my "girls secrets" purse?

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As the gents gift wallet went down so well, plus the fact that i have heard about nothing else from my two young daughters....i felt it only right to balance things out and do a tutorial for a girly make.
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I wanted to make my girls one anyway, but the inspiration for this particular theme came from a fantastic scrap booking LO i recently saw over on Toni's fantastic blog. Amongst Toni's many stunning LO's, her "Secrets" LO featuring her two daughters whispering to each other, reminded me so much of my two. Like any little girls, they love their secrets, and any little cute pockets to keep things in.

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So that's how the idea came about......now how about making one yourselves? Here is an easier tutorial than the gents wallet, giving you more time to spend on the fun decorating bits.
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Ok, firstly cut a piece of card 8 x 5 inches. *Please note these measurements will be different to the wallet, i have adjusted them slightly to make them less fiddly.

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Next, like with the gents wallet, pick two pieces of patterned paper. Here i have used the "Wings" patterned paper from the Angelique Collection by Prima.

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Now cover both sides of your piece of card, remembering that one side will be the inside of the purse, and the other the outside. Place your covered card in front of you, inside looking up at you.
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Mark your purse folds with your scoring tool at the measurements shown, for a larger image, please click on the picture.

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I find this a good time to give the front some decoration. All i have done here is used some lace, eyelets, distressed an inked the edges, added some fibres, a bloom with a fabric rose, and finally the word "Secrets". As you can see, i have used a simple Velcro dot for the closure.
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Flip it over, and you are ready to do the inside. I've added a little lace again here already....
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Now you need somewhere to hide those secrets. We are going to make a simple pocket, but you can use a pre-made envelope if you wish, maybe even a pretty little organza bag or similar?

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For this pocket, cut yourself a strip of card 8 inches long. The top inch is for the pocket lid, and you can see that i have added some flaps at the side of the bottom 3 1/2 inches. The dotted lines are score lines which will be folded.
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Cut some patterned paper the same shape, and cover the card. Score the fold lines.
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Fold this pocket over in half, gluing the tabs inside to make the pocket. I have used a border punch on the flap, and some fibres and a ribbon and brad closure to pretty it up.

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Add some more decoration if you wish. My eldest loves music, so i made a simple LO involving a handmade miniature wooden recorder, and a scroll of music. Instead of this, you could think about having a few journalling pages there, or a notebook to write the secrets on.

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Just be careful of making the inside too bulky or it will not close. If you do envisage a bulky load inside, just slightly increase the distance between the the fold scorelines.
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Thats it finished! One purse fit for a princesses secrets. :)
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I hope you enjoyed it, thanks for looking and i look forward to seeing what you do with the design. :)

Thanks for looking.

Nature's crafty reminder.....and a "helpfull" rat!

Now then.....after my post about the fantastic dolls houses, I've not heard about anything else from Rotty! I think someone wants me to get on with his house....
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"Hi Rotty, i was just thinking....maybe it's time we thought about a place of your own?
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"Well about time too....I've even got my own designs! I've been freezing my hairy little butt off in your ribbons, and trying to get to sleep whilst you're crafting away at night is a whole other issue in itself!"
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"Whoa there mister! You are skating on very thin ice after recent events involving Calvin Mouse's belongings, you are lucky I'm not building you a prison!"
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"Yeah well innocent until proven guilty and all that boss....now then onto more important things....my house! It has been quite apparent since i arrived here in your house, that you are pretty incompetent at most things.....not to mention clumsy.....therefore i feel it is best that i be in charge of this project".
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"Ok pay attention boss....firstly, health and safety is of utmost importance during this house build....i say that firstly so i can try out my new safety helmet, and secondly, you know how much Maddy worries about you injuring yourself.....i just think it will keep her off our backs for a while!"
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"Good point Rotty....and I'm not that clumsy anyway!"

"Yeah OK....now if you look i have the initial blueprints drawn up, but i was thinking of something a little more older looking, like the great rats used to live in during the plague and times like that.....maybe even Tudor style?"

"Rotty i am a papercrafter, not a master builder! I think you may be asking for a bit much my little matey."
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"Oh come on boss, i though you said that Tim Holtz guy always goes on about "the possibilities? Think of the possibilities involved here.....my own bachelor pad!!!Calvin Mouse has his own place, pretty well furnished too.....well it was....my requirements are basic, here's the list.....
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"Are you sure that's all Rotty.i mean you don't want much do you?!!!"

"This is no time for sarcasm boss.....i NEED those rooms just like you crafters NEED your stash every time you go shopping!"
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"Hmm well i still think you are asking for a lot Rotty, and the laboratory isn't happening, you'll end up blowing my craft room up! Maybe have a joint workshop/lab?"
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"Maybe boss, but i NEED a lounge to relax in after chasing Calvin Mouse.....i NEED a gym to keep my body this buff.....i NEED a kitchen to store the cakes i get from Calvin Mouse....i mean buy from him.....and the other rooms are standard in any house so there you go. Simple!"
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"Ok I'll see what i can do Rotty, in the meantime, you behave yourself mister, otherwise it's not happening, ok?"
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"Sure thing boss, now I'm going to borrow some of your crafty things for the house.....but of this...bit of that.....ooh a clamp, that will be handy.....bit of ribbon......
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"AHHHHH STAAAAASH AVALAAAAAAAANCHE!!!!!

"Umm....bit of help here boss eh?"
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"Oh my, and to think you're in charge of the project....looks like the blind leading the blind here!" "Oh and Rotty, one more thing.....you'll be needing a spare room in your house won't you".

"Eh? Why is that boss?"

"you know that you stay with Calvin Mouse when we go up to Maddy's.....and you have the run of his facilities.....well what about when Maddy comes down here? Looks like you'll have a little room mate from time to time!!!"

"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!? Well if he's to stay with me, i'm having a naughty corner especially for him!!!"

"Now now Rotty, all's fair in rodent love and war!"

Stay tuned bloggers.....i think this project will be a bumpy ride! :)

Finaly, it's funny how we can get crafty inspiration and tips from the most unlikely of places. This morning i was walking the kids to school, when i came across these leaves by the side of the road. First thing that sprang to mind, is something i tell the kids when they are making a rather "plain" card, i say, "If you do nothing else to it....ink the edges!"
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Inking the edges of a make can make so much difference to a piece, and i like to think this was Mother Nature's way of reminding me! :)

Take care all...

Veg i inked today!

Good evening veg fans!!! :)

Welcome to another ....and rather late episode of "Veg i inked today!!!". I have to admit, tonight's veg inking was done in rather a rush, due to the fact that unlike me i have been busy completing a lovely little make.....more about that another time.

So i was left with hardly half an hour before midnight to get something inked.....or else risk letting my faithful barmy army of veggie followers down. That my friends, just wasn't an option!

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Off into the depths of the fridge i delved, dodged the onions, glided over the leeks, came very close to an incident with the eggs......but eventually i found it, tonights veg to be inked......the CUCUMBER!

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Sliced for the artistic touch! :)

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Although not my greatest work, i must say they inked rather nicely! The ink stayed nice and vibrant long enough to be photographed, there wasn't the usual mess i make on a Thursday night, and the colours seemed to more or less stay separate, which saves a muddy mess at the end! :)

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Some were deeper colours than others.....

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Whilst others presented themselves with a look so bright and cheerful, you could think you were looking down at the coastline waters of some far off tropical paradise. That's what i see anyway lol.

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So a very quick, but pleasant veg inking for you tonight, nothing big, nothing fancy, but sometimes as they say, the best things come in small packages.

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Veginkabiliy rating for the cucumber? Hmmm....tricky one, however i think a 6 would be very fitting for this colourful little gem!

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The cucumber is a very juicy vegetable indeed, tons of water content, so this let the inks flow really nicely. Also, usually a green background on a veg can be a nightmare scenario for a professional fruit inker such as myself, but this was a delight!

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Thankfully, Mr Holtz's alcohol inks are such amazing colours, you just canlt help but improve anything they touch. Just you wait till i get my hands on those new brights colours!!!

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Thank you everyone for tuning in once again, for what is now an early Friday morning blog post.

I hope you are all well, now that i have done my veg, i can get on and look around your blogs....i can't relax until my weekly veg is inked......you know what it's like don't you?

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Thanks again and take care. :)

Mens gift wallet tutorial.

How about trying one of these little fellas?
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We see many lovely gifts for women, and the blogs are awash with crafty makes full of blooms and ribbons, but rarely anything for men.
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I have had many requests to share how I made the men’s paper wallet a while ago, so here is a tutorial to help you make one yourself. It would make an ideal gift for a guy, and you can put whatever you want in them.
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For this tutorial I used thin card, as it will be covered both sides with paper. Glues used were a strong stick glue (Tombo), and UHU for the extra strength needed in some parts. All measurements are in inches. For a closer look at the written measurements on the pics, click the pick to enlarge it.
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Ok then, firstly cut a piece of thin card 8 ½ x 5 ½ .
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Then choose two pieces of patterned paper and cut both of these the same size. These will be your inside and outside of the wallet. I love using the Wassail papers for this kind of thing, they have a natural leathery look to them without having to do anything with them.
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Glue your paper to either side of the card, then lay your covered card in front of you with the inside of the wallet facing upwards.
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Next you need to make the score lines so the wallet can fold. Mark the measurents shown on the photo below, then score down the wallet at these points.
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Now fold your wallet inwards from both ends, making sure you fold all four score lines. Don’t worry if the folds tear slightly on the outside when you fold them….
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This can happen if the paper or card is quite thick. However I actually like it when this happens as you can ink it and use it as a distressed look.
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Now flip it over so the front of the wallet is facing you. If you want, now could be a good time to decorate the front. Here I’ve just inked the edges, used a few stamps, added a few eyelets here and there and finished it off with a popper closure.
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So that’s the outside cover done. Now for the inside, for the purposes of this tutorial I will call it the “inlay”.
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Take another piece of paper and cut it 7 7/8 long x 4 ¼ wide as shown in the picture below. Add a tab ½ in wide either side and at the bottom of the paper.
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Turn your wallet back over again so the inside is facing upwards. Now glue the tabs and stick the inlay onto the inside of the wallet. Remember you will have only the sides and bottom glued down. The top is open so you can put money in it.
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Tip: be aware of where you insert closures when you decorate the outside of the wallet, you’ll see here I stuck a popper button right where I wanted the inlay to go, hence the cut-out part around the closure.
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Once you’ve stuck the inlay in, go over the previously scored fold lines so they now include the inlay…..like so…..
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Next you need to cut 2 strips of paper ¾ in wide, and as long as the inlay. Then cut 5 strips of paper ¾ wide and as wide as the inlay…..like so…..
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These strips will make up the frame for the pouches for the wallet. Turn them over face down and arrange them into a frame as in the picture. Starting from the left, I have marked the measurements at where I stuck my bars on the frame.
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Now we need to make the pouches. All we do for this is glue a piece of paper, slightly smaller than the frame, at each part of the frame. As you look at the paper I have just glued, note that I have only glued along the top, bottom and left side edge. I can’t explain that any better so heres a pic…
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Now for the second piece of paper that fits across the next part of the frame….this time glue only along the top, bottom and right side edges of the paper.
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Turn your frame over, and now you see the inside of the wallet…..and theres why you didn’t glue all those edges just now…..you can stick things in it now! Please note that how you arrange your “frame” and pockets is up to you. Some of these pockets here are more for effect, but still work to a degree.
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Now theres one frame that’s empty at the moment isn’t there….this is where you cover it with plastic. I cut up some plastic packaging for this. Just do the same as you did before with the pieces of paper, glue and fit it inside the last part of the frame. As you look at the picture below, you’ll see I have glue 3 sides, top right and bottom. This allows you to insert business cards, photos etc.
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Now then….time to stick the pocket frame directly onto the inlay. However before you do this, I did a Calvism and took the pics the wrong way around, so just rotate the frame so the plastic business card end is at the left side….then stick the frame straight onto the inlay, remembering to only glue the frames bottom and sides….like so…
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I used strong UHU glue to stick the inlay and the frame into the wallet, as constant opening and closing could cause ordinary glues to come apart.
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Now for a few finishing touches, here I have drawn false stitching on with a white pen. Do this on the outside of the wallet too.
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Now fold it closed and this will fold the insides nicely…
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Check the top opens ok….
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Lets see if the closure works…..you can use whatever you like for a closure, Velcro, buttons and ribbons, eyelets and ribbons…..anything….
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So there you go…..one mens wallet! Not the quickest or easiest tutorial, and I’m sure there are others out there that are easier….but I am just showing people how I did mine. Hopefully it will inspire you to change it or do something different with it.
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Thank you for stopping by to look, if there is anything in the tutorial that is a bit confusing, please feel free to say.

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Bye for now.... :)

Somethings afoot with Rotty....

Hi all, well i'm pretty much settled in again after my time up at Maddy's......lets see how Rotty's getting on shall we?

If you remember, he was last seen making an early exit from Calvin Mouse's house, laden with Calvin's gadgets on the back of a quad bike....
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"Hi there mister....hows things? All unpacked and looking after Calvin Mouse's things ok?"
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"Eh? Oh yeah of course...Calvin's things...umm yep they are fine, still here, doing well....they are great in fact!"

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"Great Rotty, so when do you have to give them back? Can i see how you've arranged them?"
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"Umm....well...you see...they aren't here at the moment....i'm getting them...umm....cleaned and umm....upgraded....yes thats it....upgraded!"

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"Upgraded Rotty? Can they do that with TV's and stereos these days?"

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"Oh yes boss, it's not like in your days yanno, a little dog and a gramaphone and all that...oh no, it's super high tech these days."

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"Wow ok Rotty, well i'll still just check they are ok, there is a lot of craft stash that can fall on them here in my craft room".

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"WAIT BOSS!!! Be right back!!!"

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"Hmmm that sounds serious, better make sure he's ok......"
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"Rotty? What are you doing in my blending foam box?

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"Ummm...nothing boss.....just putting away the pads you left out, a tidy craft room is a happy craft room and all that!"

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"Ok mister....whats the deal? What on earth have you got all that money stuffed in there for?"

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"Ah i can explain boss......see it's like this...."

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"ROTTY GET HERE NOW!!!"

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"Now then.....last time.....where did you get the money from? Quite a little pile you have there don't you think?"

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"Well boss, since the Comic Relief dance was such a success, I've been doing a few private dances on the side for some extra pennies.....yep that's what I've been doing!"

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"Really Rotty....so what about today's issue of "Rat Weekly" that i found on your bed just now? Care to explain the front page?"
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"Lol oh that's nothing boss, probably just kids messing about....you know what the youth of today are like. By the way, that thumb looks nasty, have an accident did we?".

"Yes i did, i was trying to teach the kids how to use a hammer safely, and smacked my thumb with the hammer!.......anyway, back on topic... unfortunately i do know what the youth of today are like Rotty, lets see what the bloggers think eh?"

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"Sorry Rotty but that looks pretty suspicious to me."

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"Wait a second here boss.....ok I've had a few late nights since i got back, but like i said, i was dancing."

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"Hmmm well i want to believe you Rotty, but you have to agree that your track record is not great is it? I think i might get in touch with Maddy to see what Calvin Mouse has to say about all this?"

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"I seriously wouldn't do that boss, Calvin Mouse and Maddy are really busy these days, wouldn't want to interrupt them eh?"

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"Well we'll see.....now what about this money?"

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"Don't you worry your big ole clumsy self boss.....i'll take good care of it until someone claims it!"
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"Make sure you do young man, I'll be checking!"

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Hmmm now then bloggers, that all sounds a bit suspect doesn't it? Lets see what comes of this little saga......

A secret....and some stunning creations!

Hi all :) Feast your eyes on this little beauty!



No i didn't make it lol....

Tonight i am having a break from the housework (oh yes, even us male crafters do housework yanno!), and wanted to highlight a crafty blog of a different kind...but one that i am sure be of interest to many of you out there, whether you have kids or not.

We all have our little secrets don't we, those little gems that few people know about.....or maybe you're too embarrassed to let people know about lol?

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Well one of mine is that i have always had a fascination for fantasy dolls houses. Not your average dolls houses mind, i mean those spectacular ones that take your breath away, and especially one with a fantasy theme to them. Maybe my girls have influenced that part of my imagination too, i don't know.

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Well tonight whilst i was trying to look for inspiration for a house for Rotty, i discovered a lady called Sumaiya Mehreen. An artist with many talents to her name (henna, mixed media art, graphic design and much more), Sumaiya (profile here) it would appear also has a passion for dolls houses and miniatures. So much so, that she has a couple of blogs that are dedicated to showcasing some of the more stunning dolls houses that are out there.

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Here is an example of just a few that she has showcased...

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The more whimsical fairy dolls houses...

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Hogwarts School!.....

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and the fascinating....not just by it's looks, but the story behind it, such as this one below. Sumaiya's blog goes into much more detail about this one, but basically it's the most gorgeous....and probably most expensive dolls house you'll ever see.
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It belonged to 1930's silent movie actress Colleen Moore, who enlisted the help of hundreds of craftsmen to get this dolls house done.....the story is a great read, check out Sumaiya's blog thread here to read the full story.
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The above pics are just the tip of the iceberg, you should see the detailed interiors in these dolls houses! They are spectacular, and something i am sure any crafter would appreciate when you imagine the work that would have gone into them.

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So take a look at Sumaiya's blog The Fantasy Forest, i bet you'll be wishing you could live in some of the featured houses yourself!

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As for my Rotty's house, I'm not entirely sure his will be as good as the above ones, but for a rat who has recently been up to mischief at Calvin Mouse'shouse....he's lucky he doesn't find himself back in the sewer!!!

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Nite all. :)