Long Time Away

Hi Everyone
Well it has been quite a while since I posted on my blog.  I have been looking

after my 95 year old Gran for the past 4 years so I have not had a lot of time for my crafts.  Anyway just thought I would let you know that if any of you are interested in Cake Decorating and particularly Sugar Flowers, I have a new Blog, www.mysugarflowergarden.blogspot.com.  It is new so I am like Billy No Mates at the moment and would love to see you following my site. I will be posting lots of tips about everything cake related and news about classes that I will be running from July onwards.
These are my sugar Sweetpeas which are in bloom all year round in my sugar garden!

Sheena's New DVD and Winter Stamps

Hi Everyone

Can't believe I haven't blogged since June!  It is scary how quickly Christmas is going to be here!  Mentioning Christmas, reminds me that Sheena Douglass will be launching her Fabulous New DVD and Winter Stamps as a Pick Of The Week on Create and Craft later this week.  The stamps are great and here are a few examples of some of the cards I created using them.

Hope you like them.

Debs x

Football Ted and Fishing Friends

My latest additions to my website feature that wonderful prize winning bear Popcorn and his friends. He is likely to be popping up again in many guizes. For my little female munchkins I have added my Ladybird Fairy Clock and hopefully I will be adding my Mermaid Clock tomorrow - this will be an addition to my Mermain Money Box, Mini Waste Bin and other items in the pipeline.

On another note, I am wondering where my Crafters Companion Demo Team Shirt is? I have noticed my friend and colleague Marcea modelling hers - I am just a little gealous!

Bi for now

Debs x

New Children's Range of Magical Creations

Hello Everyone

Here is a new addition to my shop www.debrafarrell.co.uk.  I am working on lots of magical creations for children and will be adding more each day.  I have noticed from my site that I have lots of people visiting from the US so if any of them are reading this, thanks for all your support.  I am also now delivering to Europe and the US with free postage!!!

Each of my creations are hand painted and make lovely gifts or additions to any child's bedroom.

Now must get on, lots to paint.

Bi for now

Debs x

Fusion Madness!

Hello All

Not much blogging this weekend but I have been out of bed at 4:00 and 5:00 am during the weekend - why you might ask - going on holiday?  Travelling to distant places?  No, I got up to paint!  You will all know what it is like when you suddenly get the urge to pick up a paint brush or for non painters it could be a pair of scissors, pens or knitting needles;  with me it is always a paint brush.

I have been trying to work on a whole new product range but until this weekend all creativity seemed to have left me.  However, my muse is back and I am now sure to be on target for my new range to be added to my site at the beginning of July.

I created this elegant bin yesterday morning, and went free-hand as my ink pads were all worn out.  Hope you like it.  Now must get back to my paints.

Happy crafting

xxx

Sakura Pens Meet Art Clay Silver

Hi Ladies

First of all, thank you all for joining.

I thought I would share with you one of my favourite pieces of jewellery that I made using art clay silver and shrink plastic with sakura glitter pens (I love them).  The silver leaves were made using a leaf mould made from a rubber stamp which came in two sizes, large and small.  The small stamp was used for the silver and then I stamped the shrink plastic with the large size and luckily it shrank down to just smaller than the silver. 

This is the only piece of jewellery that I wish I hadn't sold, I just love it so much but my customer loved it too so I know it has a good home.

Hope you like it and maybe it will inspire you to have a go.

Debs x

Welcome Jacqui and Marcea my new followers number 12 and 13 my fellow Crafters :-)  For anyone who is interested, I have now changed my Web Address to  www.debrafarrell.co.uk and am always interested in any comments about how I could improved my site so please let me know what you think.

xxx

Welcome Sheena

How lucky am I, my friend and colleague Sheena Douglass is now my follower number 11!  I will certainly have to improve my blogging skills as anyone who follows Sheena's blog will know, most of her entries are hillarious - she is one of those people who makes other people laugh.  Thanks Sheena.

I have been busy during the last few days making cards for me to actually use - I have lots of birthdays, a wedding and a Holy Communion during this month.  I decided to use the Church Door Scene from Crafters Companion Winter Tales CD but adapt it for my Holy Communion Card.  I think it worked out really well, just whent over the snow with a pen and covered the holly with a lovely Wisteria using my Serif Scrap Book Artist and used a picture of Cara wearing a bridesmaid dress which I then overlayed with a holy communion dress.  I love my Scrap Book Artist.  For anyone who hasn't used it, if you like using a PC and want to actually see some of the pictures you take rather than them being stuck on your PC never to be viewed again, then SBA is a must and really easy to use.  Now you may be wondering where the picture is?  Just realised I posted it without taking a picture !!!!! So I have attached a picture of a Mothers Day card I made using Sheena's lovely stamps.

Now must get on, I have a stall at a summer fair at the beginning of July and need to make lots of things to sell.

Debra x

Just for Sara

My friend and colleague Sara Davies sent me a mail recently asking if I could create some simple cards using paint fusion for the German Launch of Sheena's Paint Fusion products. It was surprising how hard it is to create simple cards, and what is my idea of simple may not be simple may not be another persons idea of simple. However, here are a few of the cards I came up with. I wasn't as clever as Katie who added German Text, I felt that knowing my luck I would probably end up saying something totally inappropriate when translating!

I have been a bit quiet lately as I have been busy with my new Grandson and also working on a new set of products using Polymer Clay which will be going up for sale in July.

Thanks for any comments, all I need are more followers!

Sunflower Inspiration

When I painted this box, the Sunflower looked so cheerful that I decided to change my website which I have always had in black. I felt that since I spend my life surrounded by coulour, my site should be colourful too. I must admit, I tend to like to change my website the way I move my furniture around but this does cause problems as I have to order new stationery each time. However, I think I am happy now with the bright blue background and sunflower image.

I have not been painting for last few days which is driving me mad but I have a VAT return to complete (yack) and I have also been getting to know my new Craft Artist software. Oh, and I wanted to finish off some knitting I was in the middle of. No sign of my new Grandson yet, he was due on the 11th, my daughter is being very patient about it!

I will be spending the rest of the day creating a memory book for an 80 year old lady's birthday - love doing this so it should be a pleasant day.

Debra x

Nursery Make-over

According to my clock it is after 2:00pm - it lies! Since I got up at six this morning and haven't yet moved from my computer, how could it be? Paperwork, I hate it! What I should be doing is coming up with a new design for some nursery accessories. I painted these for my first Grandson Tyler but we need a new set as my second Grandson is due today! So far, a brush has not been in my hand.

For anyone that wants to personalise their Nursery, take your curtain or bedding design and recreate on your accessories.

Must dash.
Debs x

Just had to share my House Mouse Card

I have made this card as part of the House Mouse and Friends May Challenge and even if it doesn't win, I just loved making it.

Debra x

Debra x

What a Weekend

How lucky am I? I have spent the last 3 days with Sara,Leann, Claire, Michelle and Meg from Crafters Companion and as if that wasn't enough, I was joined by the best group of Crafter/Demonstrators you could wish to meet! Now you may think that no one could get luckier than that, but you would be wrong, because we also had a visit from Sheena yesterday who ran a Paint Fusion Workshop for us all!

I would like to say to the ladies who joined me, Tracy, Katy, Shirley, Nicolla, Marcea, Paula, Nandia, Mandy, Jacqui, Louise, Louisa and Lyndsey (so sorry if I spelt any of your names wrong) that it was great to meet you all and I for one, hope we can get together again some time.

Debra x

Welcome Home

Welcome home to Sheena who must be exausted. I have been Paint Fusioning all week but decided to take the day off in an attempt to give some toilet training to my 5 month old baby Crystal. She has decided that anything that constitutes a cave, i.e, under Gran's bed, under the desk, in the few spare inches behind the sofa is the perfect toilet!!! This is not great and because of her size it is nearly impossible to catch her in the act. Although she is much bigger now than when she first came home with us (she was 1lb then) she is still only just over 3lbs and fits perfectly in all those little places that we cannot easily get to! If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Once again, enjoy a couple of days of rest Sheena.

Debra x

More Paint Fusion

What a glorious morning it is and according to the forecast it is going to get even warmer for the weekend!

Today's picture is of my box set project using Sheena's Paint Fusion Sweet Pea Stamps and although I say it myself, they worked out really well. Anyone who has watched the Pick of The Week on Create and Craft this week will have seen them during the shows. The boxes are lovely to paint and make fantastic gifts. There was quite a bit of work in these but they can be painted using a much simpler design and the lids can be painted in a contrasting colour rather than matching in with the main design which is what took me quite a bit of time to stamp and line up.

Hope you like them.

Debra x

Paint Fusion With Sheena Douglass

I am delighted to announce that I am now one of Sheena's Design Team and have enjoyed working on various samples for the latest pick of the week on Create and Craft. I am adding lots of hand painted wood gifts and home decor items to my website during the next few weeks as well as painted glass and bridal stationary. I will be issuing a detailed worksheet for various paper crafting projects via my newsletter, so if you wish to receive these please visit my website and join my mailing list via the Contact/Mailing List Tag.

I'm Back

I cannot believe that the last time I posted on my blog was in August 2010! I have been busy looking after my 92 year old Gran who became very ill and moved in with us during October last year after I spent several weeks living with her. I am glad to say that all the hard work has paid off as she is now back to her old self. Don't ever listen when Doctors and relatives write someone off. It is truly amazing what a difference love and proper care makes. No one thought Gran would make it until Christmas and here we are in May with her getting stronger every day.

Where Do The Hours Go?

Well, here we are in August making all our craft plans for Christmas - where did the year go?

I had a lovely chat today with Nikky Hall of Polka Doodles - if you read this Nikky, sorry for misspelling your name in my mail. Anyway, we had a lovely chat about stamping and somehow got around to Laura's Beads. Nikky had not been introduced to them so she is in for a real treat.

To anyone who has not heard of Nikky and Polka Doodles, do visit her website,
www.polkadoodles.com. She designs the most amazing paper crafting CDS and Stamps. They are truly different and full of fun.

Thanks to everyone who has purchased my baby fingerprints, this has been keeping me busy. I am going to try and dedicate at least half of next week to updating my website with more images of my jewellery. Towards the end of the year I will be adding some hand painted silk items (still have to paint them yet).

I will be attending the Craft Fair at the Bankfield Hotel in Bingley on the 31st October, 21st November and 5th December. Besides having lots of lovely cards, jewellery and gifts for sale I will also be demonstrating silk painting, glass painting, and special techniques for paper crafters.

Anyway, off to get some work done before another day disappears.

Debra

Baby Fingerprints

Hi Everyone

I have been really busy during the past few weeks and am a little behind schedule. However, I have now added my 'Baby Fingerprint Jewellery' to the website and will be in The Youth Centre,Newton Aycliffe, County Durham on the 23rd July between 10:00 and 4:00 to take prints for keepsake fingerprint jewellery.

I will also be in Mirfield in West Yorkshire at a fund raising event for Kirkwood Hospice on the 31st July at the Summer Fun Charity Day - Westfield Nurseries Garden Centre between 1:30 and 4:30 to take finger prints for Fingerprint Jewellery Orders. I will be donating 20% of any profit made to the Hospice.

Take care everyone.

Debra

Our Magical Day

Hello to anyone who is not sunbathing or wathching football!

I have just finished putting some of my new stationery and jewellery collection on to my new Wedding Site - ourmagicalday.co.uk

Please take a look give me any comments possitive or negative!

Debra x

Clarity Stamps by Barbara Gray

I am delighted to announce that my online shop will soon be stocking Clarity Stamps. Thought I would add an image of a Clarity Stamp - Butterfly Montage on Silk. I stamped straight onto the silk with a clear ink pad and then embossed with Cosmic Shimmer Embossing Powder - painted with silk paints and mounted the silk so that after the card is taken down the mounted silk can be framed. A card and a present in one!

Hope everyone's enjoying the sunshine, I think we are supposed to be having rain tomorrow but fingers crossed the weather man may be wrong.

Debra

Natalia Coleman Running Race For Life

Natalia is running in the race for life and looking for sponsers - if anyone would like to sign up please visit Natalia's Blog http://silverclaycreations.blogspot.com/ we never know when one of us will be struck down by that dreaded desease!

Julia Andrus

Just wanted to say that I was lucky enough to spend a day with Julia Andrus last week learning fantastic techniques for using her fabulous Eco Green Paints and Ink Pads. It isn't only the way these paints effortlessly float over the paper or whatever medium you happen to be painting on - the real magic is that when you buff it, it feels like leather with a silky smoothness. The paint is tactile!

Anyone that watched Julia on Create & Craft last week will know how lovely she came across. She really is like that, always laughing, usually at herself - I am sure that the world is a much better place with her in it. Keep well Julia!

Debra x

Blog and climb Google!

Well, this may not seem a major thing for some people but today when I did a search on Google for Magical Creations and also for Debra Farrell Blog - I got results on the first page !!!!! Blogging really works.

This has cheered me up - was feeling a bit down today. My new site should be online within the next 48 hours so fingers crossed that all goes well. My wedding site is already online but I am still working on it and adding stock - just have to design it first!

All for now - the sunshine is calling so I am going to do my paperwork outside.

Debra x

PROJECT WORKSHEET - Copper Tree

For anyone that wants to know how to make the beautiful Metal Tree Card or embellishment for a Scrapbook - please visit my partlly completed new website at:
www.magicalcreations1.vpweb.co.uk.

Don't know why but for some reason my Blog will not upload the image.

My new site should be fully up and running by the end of the week but at the moment if you use my proper web address - www.magicalcreations.co.uk you will see my old site.

PROJECT WORKSHEET - Aqua Mist

You Will Need:

Piece of clear acetate (totally smooth)
Crystal Laquer
Ranger Alcohol Inks
Cosmic Shimmer Mica Pigments
Cosmic Shimmer Glitters
Tissue Paper - gold, silver or colour to match desired scheme.

1. Squeeze crystal laquer in a ramdom pattern over the sheet of acetate.

2. Drop inks all over the acetate, try not to drop the colours into each other this is best if the colours bleed into each other from he sides. Sprinkle with Cosmic Shimmer Mica Pigments.

3. Sprinkle with Cosmic Shimmer Glitter.

4. Screw up a piece of tissue paper and then open up. Gently lay the paper over the acetate and take a piece of scrumpled up paper towel or cloth to pat the paper down.

Leave to dry overnight and then trim to size. Attach to base card with either glue or brads.

** Tip** You can stamp images on the front of the acetate but if doing this I would suggest you do it first with either archival or stayzon then if you smudge the image you have not wasted all your work and materials.

PROJECT WORKSHEET Belle in Green Cosmic Fibre Outfit and Glitter Technique Boarder

You will need:

Cosmic Shimmer Angel Fibres
Craft Iron or Travel Iron
Card
Selection of Cosmic Shimmer Glitters
Narrow Extra Sticky Double Sided Tape
Colouring Pens or Pad for skin tone and hair.
Black Archival Inkpad
Piece of Baking Paper

1. Stamp image on card colour skin and air - cut out if mounting on a coloured card - if leaving card white stamp directly onto card front.

2. Turn on iron Medium to Hot

3. Get fibre ready by gently pulling apart and forming a shape that will cover the image of Belle. Ink up your stamp, lay the fibre on top of the inked pad, lay baking paper over top and gently place iron down on top of paper. Iron the entire image until you see the black outline showing through the paper.

4. Lift the paper to see that all the fibres have bonded together. Lift off the image and cut out the outfit pieces. Any cut off pieces can be saved and used in future projects.

5. If you have a Xyron machine you can put the outfit pieces through to get them sticky. If not, use the ultra sticky double sided tape - wet glue will come through the outfit.

** TIP ** Put the double sided tape on the finer parts of the image, i.e., shoes, hands, before cutting out as it is difficult to add the tape to very small pieces afterwards.

Glitter Boarder

Put strips of double sided tape down he edge of the card. Pull back a small section of tape on the first column, about an inch at a time, and add glitter. Carry on folding the tape back one inch at a time and adding the glitter until you have achieved the desired effect.