Alphabet Funk

Inspiration {Z} - How to get a good night's sleep

2007-12-31T22:28:00.000+01:00

Most adults need about 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. You know you're getting enough sleep if you don't feel sleepy during the day. The amount of sleep you need stays about the same throughout adulthood. However, sleep patterns may change with age. For example, older people may sleep less at night and take naps during the day.

Here are some things you can do to help you sleep better:

* Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends, even if you didn't get enough sleep. This will help train your body to sleep at night.

* Develop a bedtime routine. Do the same thing every night before going to sleep. For example, take a warm bath and then read for 10 minutes every night before going to bed. Soon you'll connect these activities with sleeping, and doing them will help make you sleepy.

* Use the bedroom only for sleeping or having sex. Don't eat, talk on the phone or watch TV while you're in bed.

* Make sure your bedroom is quiet and dark. If noise is a problem, use a fan to mask the noise or use ear plugs. If you must sleep during the day, hang dark blinds over the windows or wear an eye mask.

* If you're still awake after trying to fall asleep for 30 minutes, get up and go to another room. Sit quietly for about 20 minutes before going back to bed. Do this as many times as you need to until you can fall asleep.

Tips to help you sleep

* Avoid or limit your use of caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate), decongestants, alcohol and tobacco.

* Exercise more often, but don't exercise within a few hours before going to bed.

* Learn to reduce or manage the stress in your life.

* Don't lie in bed worrying about things. Set aside another time just for worrying. For example, spend 30 minutes after dinner writing down what's worrying you and what you can do about it.

* Try eating a light snack before going to bed, but don't eat too much right before bedtime. A glass of warm milk or some cheese and crackers may be all you need.

* Don't nap during the day if naps seem to make your insomnia worse.

Inspiration {Y} - Yearbook

2007-12-20T20:18:00.000+01:00

I am so sorry for being late with this post. Inspiration just did not strike on time! With the lack of inspiration and preparing for Christmas, it was not a good recipe for me being timely.

What could the letter Y inspire you to do? What word starts with the letter Y?

Year The period of time; the Calendar Year, containing 365 days or in a leap year 366 days. It is divided into 12 calendar months and reckoned to be from 1st January to 31st December.

Why not think about making a Yearbook for 2008? It would only have to consist of 12 pages after all or have as many pages as you wanted to fill. For each month you could take one or more photographs that signify what that month means to you. It could be your birthday, Valentine's Day, a special Anniversary, a holiday, something happening in the lives of your children or something as simple as a walk in the park with the dog.

It doesn't have to be a 12"x12" scrapbook, you could choose the other popular sizes of 8"x8", 6"x6" or 8.5"x11".

You could use a simple, wire bound notebook which you could decorate the covers of, as long as you didn't make the contents too thick so as not to close properly. This would give you loads of space for journalling your thoughts too.

Why not set yourself the challenge in 2008 to make yourself a Yearbook? It would certainly be a lovely reminder to look back on. Imagine making one each year as a wonderful reminder of your children's developments as they grow up. How treasured would those books become? By documenting with pictures and words, no memory will fade away, they will always be there to look back on and remember times past; good or bad.

If you make yourself a Yearbook, then why not share it with us at Bubbly Funk? We would love to see it.

Christmas {Y} - Yule

2007-12-19T22:01:00.000+01:00

Yule is a winter festival associated with the winter solstice historically and primarily celebrated in northern Europe, however Yule is currently celebrated in various forms in many countries around the world. Yule celebrations often coincide with Christmas. Modern Yule traditions include decorating a fir or spruce tree, burning a Yule log, the hanging of mistletoe and holly, giving gifts, and general celebration.

There is a custom that on Christmas Eve an enormous log of freshly cut wood called the Yule log would be fetched and carried to the house with great ceremony. On Christmas Eve, the master of the house would place it on the hearth, make libations by sprinkling the trunk with oil, salt and mulled wine and say suitable prayers. In some families, the young girls of the house lit the log with splinters from the preceding year which they had carefully tucked away. In other families, the mother had this privilege. It was said that the cinders of this log could protect the house from lightning and the malevolent powers of the devil. Choices about the variety of wood, the way in which it was lit and the length of time it took to burn constituted a genuine ritual which could vary from region to region.

Another take on the Yule log is a desert which can easily be made from a Swiss Roll cake, decorated with chocolate butter icing. Using a fork you can make 'knots' and 'bark' patterns in the surface of the icing. Sprinkle the finished cake with a little icing sugar to simulate snow.

When I was a child, my mum and I used to make a Yule log this way. She used to have some little plastic holly leaves and robins that she would decorate it with too. This is a very easy project to undertake in the kitchen with children.

Inspiration {X} = eXciting

2007-12-01T08:26:00.000+01:00

Well, its 1st December and the countdown to another Christmas really beings in earnest now.

December is such a busy month for most of us and if you are an avid crafter you will want to make some of your gifts. For a shot of inspiration take a look at the Bubbly Funk Forum where last weekend we had a CyberCrop and there are some fantastic classes available for downloading which will help your Christmas crafty mojo!

Also, the Guest Designer for December, Tracie Hudson, made some fantastic projects with a Christmas theme so go and take a look at the Articles on the Bubbly Funk Shop to get some more ideas........

The eXcitement of Christmas has begun........

Christmas {X} Page

2007-11-26T21:26:00.000+01:00

For my X page I have done Xmas Stockings. I've introduced another way to hide a tag or journalling.

In this case I have added a photo but I will probably add a little bit of secret journalling too.

Inspiration {W}

2007-11-13T22:34:00.001+01:00

For the Inspiration {W} I've chosen to do Watercolour pencils. I find them so versatile and in the right hands (not mine of course!) the results can be fantastic!!!

You don't have to spend a fortune on buying them, one set of mine came from WH Smith. You need a few brushes of different thicknesses - I have three; fine, medium and broad. I tend to use waterbrushes (the type that has a water chamber for the handle) but often use them simply with a pot of water. I say a pot but I keep two by my side; one for wetting the brush and the other for cleaning, that way you don't get any interference of colours.

Remember that water and paper/card does not normally mix too well, so remember to be sparing with the amount of water that you apply. You can always add a little more to blend your colours but you can't take it away very easily and still achieve a nice finish.

You can watercolour stamped images, backgrounds or even peel offs if you wanted to. I'm going to show you a few photos of how I've coloured in some stamped images. I've used Stazon ink as it's quick drying and not water based so won't run into your pattern.

Using your lightest colour first, colour in your image, gradually changing pencils and colours until your image is complete and the darker colours provide your shadows. You don't have to make sure that you colour every little bit of your paper as that's what the water will do for you.

Once you're happy with your colouring, wet your brush with CLEAN water and wipe against the edge of the water pot to remove most of the water from it. Starting with the lightest colour, gradually move the brush around the pencilled area until it's covered. I then move to the shaded area I'm working in as it normally contains colours that I need to blend together and the brush doesn't have to be cleaned. Colour the darkest area first, gradually moving the brush into the lighter area to blend the two colours. Remember not to make an obvious line but to keep the movement 'fluid' between the areas.

If you're then transferring to a different area and colour, remember to clean your brush. Repeat the above process until your image is complete, then allow to dry thoroughly.

You can use Twinkling H2O paints much the same way. As these are a cake of paint, I find you need to add quite a lot of water to start off with and let them stand for a few seconds to soften the surface. The more water used on H20's the more translucent the image, the less water the darker and more intense the colour.

Christmas {W}

2007-11-04T20:06:00.000+01:00

Winter is my favourite season and it just so happens that it has Christmas and New year in it!
I have used a pattered paper and made 2 pockets with 2 extra pieces cut at different hieghts. Using my sewing machine I fixed the W onto the first pocket front before sewing on both pockets. The lettering was stamped on and I added some bling to the W.

I added winter photos and journalling to 2 pieces of card and inked the edges with white. Doodling was done using stencils.

Inspiration {V}

2007-11-04T15:33:00.000+01:00

I have chosen vellum for {V}.

Vellum is a versatile paper product that has a transparent/ translucent quality that makes it ideal for papercrafts. There are many different qualities/ thicknesses and finishes to vellum.
I tend to use a variety of white vellums,
although there are also choices of coloured
and pre-printed versions

Ways in which vellums are mostly used are;
for parchment craft
dry embossing
overlaying
wraparounds on cards
and also card inserts.

Here are a few examples of how I use vellum; Embossing
And overlaying.

We would love you to share any of your ideas with us!

Christmas {V}

2007-10-22T08:24:00.000+02:00

For my Christmas V I have used the word Victorian.

I wanted to include some facts about how Christmas was celebrated in Victorian times so I made a simple layout and used pockets and mini books.

The finished pages look like this:

And here is the slide show. Hold the mouse over the pictures for instructions.

Inspiration {U} - UTEE

2007-10-21T20:59:00.000+02:00

For {U} I've chosen UTEE or, to give it it's full name, Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel.

This is such a versatile product to use, and it's not fussy what you use it on.... chipboard, metal brads and other objects.

To use it you'll need to have a heat embossing gun and an inkpad like a Versamark or other pad that stays sticky for a while. I use a cheap non-stick baking tray to put my item into to heat up my powders so that the end product doesn't stick to it. You use it pretty much the same way as you would embossing powder but it's a bit thicker and can provide the most wonderfully thick, glossy finish.

I've added a few photos to show you how it can be used.

I die cut a flower from some chipboard and painted it with gold acrylic paint. I then inked it and coated it in UTEE before melting the first layer. You can (if you're quick) pour some more UTEE on top of that layer, but as I've been burnt in the past by picking it up (and it is VERY hot!) I let it cool for a few seconds before re-inking and coating it again. The first layer tends to give an 'orange peel' kind of texture, becoming smoother the more layers you add. I find that 3 layers are adequate for a smooth, glossy finish.

On this one, I added some beads between the second and the final layer for a bit of colour and added texture.

This is simply a brad which has been triple embossed with UTEE to give a raised 'wet' look to it. Mind your fingers when heating metal - use long nosed tweezers.

It would be lovely for you to show us what you have made with UTEE. Why not post them over on the gallery {here}

Christmas {U}

2007-10-13T11:13:00.000+02:00

For the letter {U} I have had some fun by making a waterfall page about when Santa got stuck Up the chimney!

I love this song and have so much fun singing it with the children at work Instructions to make a waterfall card/ page are on this link HERE

Inspiration {T}

2007-10-07T10:45:00.000+02:00

For Inspiration T I was going to do a bit about Templates and how to use them.

Instead though I am going to provide you with a link which says it all really. It shows how templates can be used and with a little creative imagination they can be an invaluable asset to your craft stash....

Click {here} .........

Sunday 23rd September {Christmas T}

2007-09-23T10:09:00.001+02:00

For my Christmas T page I have chosen Trees and Tags. Another idea for T is also Tinsel.

I made some tags last year but didn't use them for gifts, too mean to give them away I guess. So I decided it would be nice to incorporate them in the journal. I also like the picture of my Christmas Tree in the conservatory and the colours went well with the page.

Here is the finished outer and inner views of the page:

{S} = Sewing onto Paper

2007-09-16T10:15:00.000+02:00

I love sewing into paper. Its so easy and fun!!

You can hand sew or machine sew. If you want to try it by hand just lightly pencil in the area that you want to sew, prick holes with a needle a certain distance apart and then sew. Backstitch is easiest although you can go for the messy look and miss stitches here and there.

Preparing in advance is the key for hand sewing.

Machine sewing onto paper is my favourite though........its much the same as sewing with fabric. Make sure you keep a needle just for sewing with paper. Don't try and use it with fabric because it probably won't be as sharp and work so well with the two mediums, so keep the paper one separate.

Always ensure your bobbin has enough thread to finish the job. If your bobbin runs out of thread half way through and you carry on sewing not realising, you will then have empty holes that you will have to try and re-stitch over. Easier said than done.

I know when sewing with fabric at the end you double stitch over and over to ensure it doesn't unravel, well don't do this with paper - it will look messy! Just finish the stitching, turn to the wrong side and pull the end of the thread through, tie into a knot and then I always cover the knot with sellotape just to make sure it doesn't come undone. Obviously you want to sew where the reverse isn't going to be seen, although if it is just ensure a neater finish.

Ideas:
- you can sew together different pieces of cardstock/paper to create a mosaic effect.

- its a good way to attach another layer - gives an extra dimension and makes it more secure

- stitch around lettering

- a good way to secure vellum as glue will show through

- attach a pocket to hold journalling

- straight stitch or zigzag for effect

You can do so much with stitches on paper. You can do a perfectly straight line - always a good idea to lightly draw a line with pencil first though unless you are mega sure of your sewing skills! Or go for a deliberately wobbly line - this is one of my favourites as it doesn't matter how wobbly you go as its obvious it was meant that way!

I sew onto paper so much now that to me a project doesn't look finished until I have sewn, even if its just around the edge to create a frame. Give it a go - once you start there is no going back though!! My sewing machine lives permanently under my desk now so I have easy access just to lift it up onto my desk ready for the next project!

Christmas {S}

2007-09-09T16:36:00.000+02:00

S is for stockings! The other options for this letter could be Santa, sellotape or sales!
Hanging out stockings is a tradition that has passed down through many generations. I remember hanging mine on the end of my bed(before stranger danger) and waking up to find it filled with a small pressie, an orange and some nuts. My children hang thiers outside thier bedroom doors and are so excited when they discover what's in them!

I have made the stockings with flaps which are hidden under the journalling to allow them to open.

Inspiration {R} Ribbon

2007-09-02T01:27:00.000+02:00

How versatile is ribbon? Very. Here's a few things you can do with ribbon:

- Tie ribbon onto the book rings or spiral of books.
- Tie ribbon onto a paperclip for a fab embelly.
- Make a gatefold card or journalling space, set eyelets and then use ribbon in a lacing effect to close the gatefold.
- Use ribbon as a flower stem.
- Use short lengths of ribbon around a punched out circle to create a flower effect.
- Tie around a chipboard letter.
- Fold a short length of ribbon in half and staple to your project.
- Rubber stamp greetings onto a piece of cotton or twill ribbon.
- Use rub-ons on ribbon.
- Use dotty ribbon with stripey paper or vice versa.
- Add flowers to a length of ribbon to create a daisy chain effect.
- Fray ribbon ends for an aged look.
- Attach a charm to your page or card with thin ribbon.
- Create a pull-tag with a looped piece of ribbon.
- Thread thin ribbon through chunky buttons and tie.

Ooooooh I could go on and on. Ribbon is so versatile and I must admit I use it on probably every project!

Ribbon storage can be fun too. Find an old box, decorate and make holes to poke the ribbon through. Use a piece of wooden dowling across your workspace to hang ribbon reels on.

Or use messy baskets like me...........

Either way, have fun!!

Christmas {R}

2007-08-31T16:45:00.000+02:00

Christmas {R}

For my Christmas page R I have chosen Reindeer. I have used some photos of some deer from our local park and also a special Christmas card received from some good friends last year.

Inspiration {Q} Quotes

2007-08-26T11:53:00.000+02:00

If you fancy adding any quotes to your Christmas Cards or Christmas scrapbook pages then take a look through these:..........

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? Claustrophobic.
-- Unknown

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
-- Norman Vincent Peale

Somehow, not only for Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others, is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing the poor and lonely and sad, the more of your heart's possessing, returns to you glad.
-- John Greenleaf Whittier

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
-- Hamilton Wright Mabi

It was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, "God Bless Us, Every One!
-- Charles Dickens

Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.
-- Mary Ellen Chase

Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles.
-- Unknown

If there is no joyous way to give a festive gift, give love away.
--Unknown

Why does Scrooge love Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Because every buck is dear to him!
-- Unknown

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.
-- Agnes M. Pharo

Many banks have a new kind of Christmas club in operation. The new club helps you save money to pay for last year's gifts.
-- Unknown

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!
-- Charles Dickens

I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.
-- Shirley Temple

I do come home at Christmas. We all do, or we all should. We all come home, or ought to come home, for a short holiday - the longer, the better - from the great boarding school where we are forever working at our arithmetical slates, to take, and give a rest.
-- Charles Dickens

It comes every year and will go on forever. And along with Christmas belong the keepsakes and the customs. Those humble, everyday things a mother clings to, and ponders, like Mary in the secret spaces of her heart.
-- Marjorie Holmes

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
-- Charles Dickens, Ebeneezer Scrooge, A Christmas Carol

Christmas is a race to see which gives out first - your money or your feet.
-- Unknown

I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the word seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses.
-- Taylor Caldwell

The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing other's loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas.
-- W. C. Jones

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.
-- Burton Hillis

Whatever else be lost among the years, Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing: Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears, Let us hold close one day, remembering Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men. Let us get back our childlike faith again.
-- Grace Noll Crowell

Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given--when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.
-- Joan Winmill Brown

Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart... filled it, too, with a melody that would last forever.
-- Bess Streeter Aldrich

Peace on earth will come to stay, When we live Christmas every day.
-- Helen Steiner Rice

Christmas is a time when everybody wants his past forgotten and his present remembered. What I don't like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.
-- Phyllis Diller

There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.
-- Erma Bombeck

I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.
-- Harlan Miller

Christmas ... is not an eternal event at all, but a piece of one's home that one carries in one's heart.
-- Freya Stark

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, Which shall be to all people. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, Lying in a manger.
-- St. Luke ii. 10-12

From home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another - the warmth and joy of Christmas, brings us closer to each other.
-- Emily Matthews

Heap on the wood!-the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We'll keep our Christmas merry still.
-- Sir Walter Scott

Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas. All else is outward display - so much tinsel and decorations. For it isn't the holly, it isn't the snow. It isn't the tree not the firelight's glow. It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men when the Christmas spirit returns again.
-- Unknown

Bless us Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind; Teach us to be patient and always to be kind.
-- Helen Steiner Rice

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; it makes no noise at all, but softly gives itself away; while quite unselfish, it grows small.
-- Eva K. Logue

Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance--a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.
-- Augusta E. Rundel

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.
-- Washington Irving

The merry family gatherings - the old, the very young; hhe strangely lovely way they Harmonize in carols sung. For Christmas is tradition time - traditions that recall the precious memories down the years, the sameness of them all.
-- Helen Lowrie Marshall

He who has no Christmas in his heart will never find Christmas under a tree.
-- Sunshine Magazine

The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.
-- Louisa May Alcott

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

-- Clement C Moore

Christmas is the day that holds all time together.
-- Alexander Smith

May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope; The spirit of Christmas which is peace; The heart of Christmas which is love.
-- Ada V. Hendricks

Christmas {Q}

2007-08-20T18:02:00.000+02:00

{Q} is a letter with very few choices of what it represents during Christmas. The only 2 I could think of were queing (in shops!) and the Queen's speech. I have done a very simple page about the traditon of the Queen's speech and how it used to fit into my life when I was younger.

P is for Paints

2007-08-15T22:28:00.000+02:00

There are many different types of paint but I’m only going to cover 3 of them here, Oil, Watercolour and Acrylic. Paints are generally manufactured in 2 qualities, Artist or Student. The Artist ranges are a much better quality but they do cost a lot more than the Student equivalent.

Oil Paints

As the name says, they are oil based paints traditionally thinned using Refined Linseed Oil and Turpentine but you can get Oil paint thinners from Windsor and Newton.

The most commonly used good painting surfaces for oil paints include Canvas and Illustration Board. Linen canvas is best but linen/cotton mix can be used. These and Illustration Boards are widely available from art shops and they are normally ready primed, although you can prime them yourself using something like Gesso.

A good colour palette to start would be Titanium White, Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber, Raw Umber and Cobalt Blue. You will notice that no black has been mentioned, try not to use black or if you do, use it sparingly, its use produces muddy colours.

Generally when using oils you would start by doing an Underpainting using either very thinned down Burnt Umber Oil paint or alternatively Burnt Umber Acrylic as this is very quick drying.

Once you are happy with your underpainting a good guide is to then build up the colours working from dark to light, although this is down to personal preference, just have fun and experiment.

Don’t fret if you go wrong either, oils are very opaque if not thinned so mistakes can be covered quite easily.

Watercolours

Watercolour paints are, believe it or not, water based. They can come in tubes, a paste form, or in pans, solid paint until a wet brush is applied.

Paper is probably the best painting surface, there are an abundance of papers available in differing textures and weights.

The lighter weight papers will need to be stretched to prevent buckling. To do this, soak a sheet of paper in water for a few minutes and lay it out on a drawing board. Tape around the edges with wetted brown paper sticky tape.

A good colour palette for watercolours would be Yellow Ochre, Raw Umber, Indian Red, Sepia, Cadmium Red, Crimson Lake, Prussian Green, Cerulean, French Ultramarine, Prussian Blue, Paynes Grey. Again avoid black if possible.

Watercolours have a beautiful transparency and painting is done with mainly washes of colour. Picking out details are normally done by dry brushing and a good rule of thumb is to work from light to dark.

To maintain the beautiful transparent look try to avoid using white, hence why it has not been mentioned in the colour palette.

Acrylics

Acrylics are incredibly versatile, they are used with either water or Acrylic Medium and they have the opacity of oils but are very quick drying as they are water based. They can also be used like a wash as in watercolours but once dry you are not able to blend them again as in the way as you can with watercolours.

Acrylics can be used on a variety of surfaces, primed or unprimed, although it is better to seal wood before you paint. Canvas, illustration board and paper can all be used.

A good colour palette for acrylics would be Burnt Umber, Ultramarine Blue, Titanium White, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, Naples Yellow, Paynes Grey, Burnt Sienna, Chromium Oxide of Green and Lamp Black.

Tip for making black.

A good way to make black is to use Burnt Umber and Ultramarine Blue, more blue and you have a cooler black, more brown and it warms it up a little.

Why not get experimenting.

Christmas {P}

2007-08-15T21:48:00.000+02:00

For Christmas {P} I have used the word Presents. As my journal is getting a little fat this is a nice skinny entry. The tags were made last Christmas for a Bubbly Funk Design team challenge, I never used them on a gift so I thought they would go nicely here.

Inspiration {O}

2007-07-23T21:03:00.000+02:00

Origami

Origami, literaly translated is "folding paper". Although we associate this with the Japanese art of shape making, we do it without realising in crafts such as teabag folding, lace and scrapbooking.
I like teaching children to fold simple shapes such as fans and airplanes to start then working up to more complicated ideas, but there is no limit to your imagination and creativity when it comes to folding paper!

The items above in the slide show were made using templates from this web site. http://cp.c-ij.com/english/3D-papercraft/origami/index.html Have a go and see how addictive it is!!

Christmas {O}

2007-07-19T20:34:00.000+02:00

Ornaments
Decorating the house in preparation for Christmas is a special family time for us. I love making ornaments with the children and have kept all of the ones they brought home from nursery, playgroup and school.

I have used a paper printed with the song words to "O Christmas tree" and have made two pages of different sizes with plain bazzill in between. The photo on the tag is of Molly decorating the tree for Christmas 2001.

Christmas {N}

2007-07-15T22:09:00.000+02:00

I've taken the notebook I made for the Inspiration {N} and continued to decorate it to make myself a book of things to remember to do at Christmas.

As Caroline says, we all need lists to remind us of what we need to do, so my lists will be in my notebook. I've divided it into 5 sections: Things to do, Xmas cards to write, Gifts to buy, Shopping to get and Presents received (to make the thank you cards).

Each section has about 20 pages so this book should do me for a few years to come.

Inspiration {N} - Notebooks

2007-07-15T22:02:00.001+02:00

I've chosen to show you how to alter a notebook for the Inspiration {N}. It's done as a slide show with many steps that I hope will guide you through the process to have a go at making your own. I've chosen to decorate mine in a Christmas theme as that will tie in nicely with the Bubbly Funk Christmas A-Z that I'm doing too.

Good luck, I hope I've made it easy for you to follow. Why not have a go and upload your books to the Bubbly Funk Gallery {here}

Inspiration {M}

2007-06-23T11:21:00.000+02:00

Mini maze books are simple to make and require the minimum of materials. They are approx. 3 1/2 - 4 inches square so are an ideal size to give as gifts or make keepsake memory journals for yourself!
I have even made these with the children I work with and they have filled them with images of thier favourite things/ memories of people or animals who are no longer with them.

To make a maze book you will need:

- a 12 x 12" piece of thin(ish) card

- Stiff card / chipboard - cut into 2x 3 1/2 - 4 inch squares.

- Patterned paper of your choice for cover

- adhesives - I used double sided tape and Herma roller.

How to make:

Start with 12" card and fold in half, with fold towards you. To make the fold lines crisp you can either use a bone folder or the blunt edge of your scissors.

Fold top flap over back towards the original fold and yourself.
Turn over and repeat.

Open up and place card so that the fold lines are verticle to you, and repeat the 3 folds you made before.

When you open up the card this time you should have 6 fold lines and 16 squares that look like this

Now you need to make 3 cuts which I have marked out with pen for you to see. Make sure you don't cut too far!

Following the folds in the card, fold concertina style until you have a book shape

Put the book to one side and make the covers using your thick card/ chipboard squares and patterned paper. I cut my card to 3 1/2" and the paper to just under 4". Cut the corners off the paper and mount card onto back of paper, as shown Then to ease folding score paper along edges of the card with embossing stylus or similar tool.
Fold over all edges and stick down securely.

There are various ways to finish your book. You will need to decide whether you want to use both sides of the pages so that it's a double sided/ ended book or if you want to fix it to only open in normal book fashion. The book I made for this blog has a concertina type spine which I made using the reverse side of the paper and attatching it to the covers before fixing to the book.
I have also made one previously, lacing up the spine

I have great fun making these books and hope you will too!

Christmas {M}

2007-06-18T21:28:00.000+02:00

For {M} I thought about Mince pies and also added a "Merry Christmas"!
I enjoy mince pies and am always trying different makes to find "the ultimate pie!" The pastry needs to melt on my tongue, the mince has to have just the right amount of tang and of course, it has to go nicely with cream!
I haven't yet had a go at making my own but maybe this will give me the enthusiasm to try some this year. I have put 3 recipes in the book but there are several blank pages I can add to if I come across any other recipes that look nice or easy!!

Enjoy!

Inspiration {L}

2007-06-17T20:21:00.000+02:00

Following on from the Christmas L is Inspiration {L} – Lists!!

Every one of us has so much to do in any one day that one sure way to combat the potential stress and to prioritise jobs, is to make a list or lists!

It might be an idea to start off making a list of the lists you would like to make – sounds odd but this is what I had in mind:

My List of Lists to do

1. Craft commitments
2. Work priorities
3. Food shopping
4. Books to read
5. Films to watch
6. Days out
7. Birthday and Special occasion card/presents
8. What to take on holiday
9. Daily list
10. Housework

Each of these lists to do may have one list or more than one list. It’s a good idea to prioritise so that number one is the most important and it may certainly doesn’t have to stop at number ten, it could go on and on, but ten seems a manageable number for most list making.

The list should also be achievable, otherwise you are going to be disappointed and this in turn will create more stress which the list was originally meant to help eliminate!! (Don’t laugh – I do make lists and do aim to get them done, believe it or not!!)

I am thinking mostly of the daily list. I make a list of what I want to do in a day, be it vacuum, mop the floors, do food shopping, do new advertising for the shop, sort out orders, etc. etc. but in order for the complete list to be done you can’t put too many big jobs down, you have to be realistic and allow for disruptions, lunch, chatting on phone, picking kids up from school, etc. (and of these distractions I have many!).

A life revolving around lists sounds a little silly to some, but I have to say it certainly helps me. People who know me know how I can appear disorganized but I am finding that of late the list making is certainly a step in the right direction!

So whats on your list/s…………??!

Christmas {L}

2007-06-17T19:55:00.000+02:00

Better late than never – Alphabet Funk Christmas {L} !!

I was going to go along the lines of Lights – but couldn’t find a half decent photo of any of my Christmas fairy lights so I finally decided on Lists. We all make lists at Christmas, in order to aid our memory and so we can manage to get things done so as to actually enjoy the few Christmas days that it is all geared up for.

This list of typical of some of the many things I want to achieve each Christmas and I usually do manage most of them!! I enjoyed doing this page as I love the colours and the paper – BG Snowed In – is to die for. I have to say, and some of you have probably gathered this, I absolutely love using my sewing machine and I think I am sewing on almost everything I do lately. I just love the look it gives, its easy, effective and a different way to using adhesive!!

{K} for Knitting

2007-05-27T11:51:00.000+02:00

Knitting used to be thought of as a more mature ladies pastime, but more recently Knitting has become big business with younger people too. The availability of many fab new yarns has given a lot of crafters the urge to make something and so the needles have come out.

Regardless of fashion I have knitted for years, I have knitted cardigans, jumpers, baby clothes and the classic scarf. Nowadays a scarf is what I turn my knitting hand to most of the time. So quick and easy and so fashionable too - my daughter is a great fan of my scarves to the point where her friends are asking me to knit them one too! (I have to graciously decline - I don't have so much spare time these days)!

Scarves need not be just about knitting a long length. You can add pom poms, ribbon, buttons, beeds, ooooh just about anything that can stand a wash! A couple of years ago I knitted family and friends a scarf each for Christmas. They were gorgeous chenille scarves with ribbon threaded through and as the wool is chunky they were quite quick to make.

To make a really quick scarf, you can use bigger needles. I have some mega chunky 15mm needles that will produce a really loose knit and you can, of course use any type of yarn. Chunky needles aren't just for chunky wool!

I fancy trying my hand at knitting a mobile phone cover. How easy would that be?! The width needs to be just slightly wider than the phone itself and the length would be 2.5 times the size of the phone. You then have a little flap which can be velcroed down or use a button! Funky.......

So get those needles out! I know its Summer (although the weather would have you think otherwise at the moment) but if you start now, you can have your Christmas pressies done and dusted so that you can enjoy December instead of panicing.......or is that just me........?!!

Christmas {K} Page

2007-05-20T08:46:00.000+02:00

Di O's {K} Page

For my Christmas {K} Page I chose Kings. I decided to utilise some of the beautiful Christmas cards we had received and I picked out the ones that represented the 3 Kings.

The little tags are ideal for journalling or additional photos, whatever you prefer.
It's a great way to use some of your old Christmas Cards.

{J} Jewellery

2007-05-13T11:24:00.000+02:00

We all love jewellery - and what fun to be able to make your own. Follow these simple instructions to make a fabby necklace that is suprisingly quick and easy to make!..........

pic 1: these are the tools, findings and beads required.

Clockwise from top left:
round nose pliers, pliers, wire cutters, eyepins, jump rings, brown waxed cord, selection of small coordinating beads, shell pendant and large wooden bead.

pic 2: cut the end off an eyepin and make a small closed loop at one end using the round nose pliers.

pic 3: open the right size jump ring using the pliers and put through the hole in the shell pendant and the loop on the eyepin. Close the jump ring completely.

pic 4: thread each bead onto a separate eyepin. Using the wire cutters, cut the eyepin leaving about a 1cm length above the bead.

pic 5: using the round nose pliers make a loop on each cut eyepin for each of the beads.

pic 6: thread the bead loops onto the eyepin that's attached to the shell pendant. They will fall into a cluster.

pic 7: thread the wooden bead onto the eyepin followed by a single bead to cover the opening of the wooden bead for neatness.

pic 8: make a loop at the end of the eyepin with the round nose pliers, making sure it is closed completely.

pic 9: thread the waxed cord through this final loop and cut a long length. You can then wear the necklace as short or as long as you would like simply by adjusting where you tie the knot.

How fab is this necklace! Go on - give it a go..........
Many thanks to Kaz for the great instructions and photos........

{J} Jack frost!

2007-05-04T00:28:00.000+02:00

I chose "Jack frost" because I like the way the frost makes everything sparkle and glisten! Spider's webs are turned into jewels in the hedges and the stories told about Jack Frost are magical.

{I} for Inchies

2007-04-28T20:31:00.000+02:00

Inchies - 1"x1" pieces of art!

Its amazing how much you can fit onto a one inch square and if you are lucky enough to be involved in a swap and get a whole collection of a certain theme they can look fantastic!

Inchies can be stamped, inked, embellishments added, beaded, anything goes! The one inch square is best made with a base of stiff cardboard with your name, date and theme added to the back - as much info as you can get onto the inch really!

Check out this site {here} for some real Inchie Inspiration............

We recently had our first Inchie Swap on the {Bubbly Funk Forum} and the theme was Pink. One simple theme and 12 completely different inchies. Fancy having a go? Pop to the forum for info and updates on regular swaps for Inchies and lots of other crafty doings!

Christmas {I}

2007-04-22T20:20:00.000+02:00

Ivy is often used with Holly as a decoration around Christmas time as it is an evergreen plant. The popular Christmas Carol 'The Holly and the Ivy' is testament to this fact.

{H} Handbag Charm

2007-04-15T09:13:00.000+02:00

Handbag Charms are so fashionable at the moment and a bag really does look undressed without one! They are so easy to make - I personally do not have a great deal of tools approriate for jewellery making, so if I can do it then anyone can!

To make the simple handbag charm in the pic, all you need are:

Beads/Charms
Jump Rings
Chain
Ribbon/Suede Trim
Eyepin/Headpin
Swivel Clip
Key Ring

and follow these simple instructions.........

These little kits are available on Bubbly Funk {here} , if you fancy giving this a go!

Journal {h} page

2007-04-08T13:54:00.000+02:00

Di O's {h} page

For my H page I decided to use HO HO HO. I used pictures of a hamper we were given for Christmas and some more pictures of our hearth and fireplace with the flames glowing.

Glass painting

2007-04-01T08:17:00.000+02:00

There are various ways to paint/ decorate glass such as using stick on outliners, using relief outliners, or even spraying on a frosting with reliefs masked out. I use transparent glass paint that is left to dry but there are also paints that reqire drying in an oven to give more of a glazed finish.

When working with glass ensure that the surface you are working on is clean and free of any fingerprints!

I have decorated a vase which measures 25cm high x 7.5

Choose the pattern you want and print/ draw it out. cut it to size and stick on the inside of the vase using low tack paper tape.

With a relief outliner trace the pattern onto the glass. I have used a silver one as I sometimes find black too harsh. Make sure that touching lines do touch and any areas that are to be painted in later are "closed" with no breaks in the outliner.

Take the pattern out of the vase and leave to dry for about an hour.
If you make any mistakes or want to start again you can soak it in warm, soapy water or if you wait until it's dry the

outliner will scrape off.

When the outliner is completely

dry you can add colour by painting in closed areas. I have used yellow in the top half of the leaves and orange in the bottom. You have to be generous with the paint as it doesn't spread that well and to get an even covering you need enough paint to cover the entire surface of the area.

To frost your glass cut out your required shape/s from sticky back plastic, stick onto glass, then spray. As quickly as you can, without touching the wet frosting, peel off plastic and leave to dry.

{G}

2007-03-26T11:57:00.001+02:00

I chose "Gifts" as my {G} page as most people exchange gifts at Christmas with friends and family!
I have kept my LO simple for this one and have used a program on my computer to print the text straight onto the template, before printing and cutting. The letter and present were cut out on my Xyron personal cutter.

{F} for Flowers!

2007-03-18T09:40:00.000+01:00

Its Mothers Day today and if you want your flowers to last as long as possible follow these tips for a long lasting display!

- Use lukewarm water when arranging flowers; it has less oxygen in it, so you don't get so many air bubbles up the stems of flowers. (The air bubbles reduce the life of the flower).

- Use plain, lukewarm water for most cut flowers, but use cold water for bulb flowers, such as daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips.

- Change the water every 2 days - don't just top it off. This is the single most effective thing you can do to keep your flowers looking fresh.

- Keep flowers out of direct sunlight, and move them to a cool place at night.

- Add a shot of vodka or a splash of lemonade to the water in your vase - it will keep your flowers fresher for longer.

- To keep the water fresh in your flower arrangement drop a shiny copper penny into the bottom.

- When arranging flowers, strip off all leaves below the waterline to prevent them rotting.

- Smash hard woody stems but cut soft stems to prolong their life before placing them in your arrangement.

- To help perk up and revive woody-stemmed flowers like roses put the stems in boilind water for ten seconds, and then immediately plunge them into cold water. This will move the air lock that has formed in the stem up to the flower.

- If your flower arrangement is going to be in a warm room, keep the blooms looking fresh by popping a couple of ice-cubes into the water each morning.

- Don't put flowers next to fruit because the fruit produces ethylene gas, which increases the maturity rate of the flowers, so they die quicker. Also, remove dying flowers from an arrangement because they produce the same gas.

- Scented flowers don't last as long as non-scented ones because they use up extra energy producing the smell.

- Do not mix daffodils with other blooms - they release a poison that kills other flowers.

- A pinch of salt or sugar into the water of a flower arrangements helps to slow down bacterial growth.

Happy Mother's Day..........

Christmas {F}

2007-03-11T10:11:00.000+01:00

Di O's {F} Page

Whilst I was thinking about my F page I came across a gorgeous quote "The magic of Christmas never ends because its greatest gift is family and friends" It is such a lovely quote and ideal for my F page.

I've made a fairly simple page this week, the front flap opens to reveal a small pull out underneath for up to 5 photos front and back. I have used it for a combination of photos and journalling.

I added the fab Magic of Christmas quote by just printing out a coloured background and using white text. The strips were then torn round and inked.

I mounted the letter F onto chipboard and covered with Basic Grey. The edges were inked, I added the "friends" charm and tied a small piece of ribbon round the letter stem.

I used a little Family charm on the bottom right hand side and a chipboard shape to keep the flap closed.

For the finishing touches I added some fibres down the left hand side and added a bead to the end of the fibres.

The finished page:

{E} for Embossing

2007-03-04T17:47:00.001+01:00

There are two methods of embossing; dry embossing and heat embossing. I have chosen dry embossing to show you.

Firstly you will need to assemble all the required tools: Paper, card or vellum; stencil; embossing tool; light box.

Using a low tack tape, tape the stencil to the front of the card.

Turn the card and stencil over and place it onto the light box. Using the embossing tool, follow the outline of the stencil and any open areas within the stencil.

Turn the card back over to the right side. Using chalks apply to the areas that have been pushed through the stencil. Using a cotton wool ball apply shading from the stencil out onto the card.

Cut the stencilled image out (I have used decorative scissors) and have edged the cut image with an ink pad.

Christmas {E}

2007-02-25T09:54:00.000+01:00

Di W's {E} Page

I have chosen Christmas EVE and EXCITEMENT for {E}.

I started off with a piece of bazzill card as a backing and cut 2 circles from red themed paperand put them back to back.

I cut a letter E out on my Xyron and stuck the relief onto the middle of the circle. I coloured the E in and used a silver pen to draw inside it, then used a template to create the pattern around.

I stuck a small strip of the circle to the backing then used my sewing machine to create a hinge. I also used a zig zag stich around the border.

On the inside page I used the E cut out and wrote the words of the title. I had a piece of themed paper that had concentric circles, so I cut out the centre and wrote the journalling around the circles. Finally, I dreew some pictures to reprsent the journalling.

Di O's {E} Page

For my E page I have chosen ENJOY!

The first shaped flap folds out to reveal pictures on the inside and the 2nd flap folds out for journalling.

Under the 2nd flap are 3 more mini flaps that reveal small pictures and more journalling.

{D} for Decorating Chipboard

2007-02-18T12:55:00.000+01:00

Chipboard comes in a whole host of shapes and sizes and can look very effective on any craft.

There are many ways that you can decorate chipboard and I have set out a few examples of just some of the techniques that can be used.

1/. Simply covering this leaf shape with mulberry paper and then using a little embossing gel to create the main veins on the leaf.

2/. How about stamping yellow card and embossing with gold on this star chipboard. Finish off with a couple of buttons simply threaded with ribbon.

3/. Another option is to dry emboss a word onto white core card and rub off the top coloured layer as in this snow arrow below.

4/. A further example of covering with card only this time, one heart has been covered in decorative corrugated card and the other in simple white core card. Punch a hole and add raffia and add a button threaded with more raffia. Glue the two hearts together.

5/. Paint, this can be very effective, firstly a simply painted book plate with metallic acrylic to give off a fabulous metallic sheen.

Alternatively, paint a heart and add beads and tiny confetti hearts for decoration.

Painted flower chipboard. 3 different coloured acrylic paints make up this flower design. The petals are dabbed with embossing gel to give the illusion of rain drops.

6/. How about decorating with more chunky embellishments like the shells used in the next example.

I have tried to show you a few ways that you can decorate chipboard but as a challenge, we would love to see your creations this week.

Upload your creations to your blog or gallery and leave a link in the comments. Alternatively, upload to the Bubbly Funk gallery and we will post your pictures on here.

Christmas {D}

2007-02-11T16:46:00.001+01:00

Rosie's Letter {D} - Decorated Tree

My A-Z of Christmas Journal is A5 in size and is a single page layout per letter. I have used a traditional backing paper on both my C and D pages.

I've inked the edges of the page with a moss green ink pad. Selected and decorated a Christmas Tree image with some funky red fibres to simulate tinsel. I've added flat backed jewels and gems as baubles and added a gold start brad to the top.

The tag I've edged with gold ink and attached using foam pads for depth.

Di O's Letter {D}

For my letter 'd' I wanted to use some pictures of some blue decorations I had put up in my hallway.

I made a fold out page, again with Basic Grey, and used a chipboard letter 'd' for the front. On the inside I hinged the largest picture and put journalling and a further picture underneath.

The front closes using a magnetic dot and I used beads to add a little sparkle.

{C} is for COLOUR!!!

2007-02-04T11:16:00.000+01:00

Colour Theory is quite an indepth subject and it is only skimmed lightly here to give you a general idea of how you can inject certain colours into your crafts to create certain moods. Each colour carries with it a feeling, a mood, an emotion and can have a huge impact on your scrapbooking page, card or wherever you use colour.

{RED}

Red is associated with: Love, passion, desire, power, physical activity, determination, danger, energy, fire.

Red is the most emotionally intense and extroverted colour. Red is versatile and great as an accent color.

{ORANGE}

Orange is associated with: Sunshine, citrus, energy, health, playfulness, happiness, harvest, prosperity.

Orange is a hot colour but softer and not as aggressive as red. Can be a bit too much though in its purest form and is best balanced with cooler colours or different shades.

{YELLOW}

Yellow is associated with: Sunshine, light, warmth, playfulness, intellect, sociable, cheerful.

Yellow is the brightest of the true colours and the most difficult colour for the eye to process. Commonly used to attract attention when paired with black.

{GREEN}

Green is associated with: Nature, renewal, growth, harmony, fertility, ecology, relaxation, money, prestige.

Green is the most restful colour to the human eye and the most predominant colour on the planet. As green is not an overwhelming colour it works with every hue.

{BLUE}

Blue is associated with sky, water, heaven, tranquility, serenity, trust, loyalty, confidence, stability, wisdom, power, cleanliness.

Blue is a reassuring, serene, and calm colour. Dark hues are often used to denote authority, such as police uniforms, whilst the lighter hues suggest cleanliness and calm. Timeless and classic, blue can be used in large amounts without feeling overwhelming.

{PURPLE}

Purple is associated with: Regal, mysterious, bohemian, spiritual, luxurious, sophisticated, dignified, creative, magical.

Purple is a very rare colour in nature, but is a very popular choice. Becuase of its richness and depth, purple can overwhelm in large amounts.

We would love to see some of your craft projects showing colour, colour and a bit more colour!!

Christmas letter {C}

2007-01-28T10:30:00.000+01:00

Di W's {C} page

There are so many options for the letter {C}, but I have chosen "cards" as it is how I started crafting!

I have used a single page layout for this letter. Each of my pages are 51/2 x 51/2". I started out with 6x6 cover boards but have made the book double hinged, so the pages are slightly smaller to accomodate this.

I cut a piece of black card 21cm x 12cm and folded it in half to make a card shape. With my Xyron personal cutter I cut the letters out of blue matt card to spell out the word "cards". I also cut out the shadow of C in cream card. I chose a blue snowflake backing paper and cut out a 10 1/2cm square, which I cut in half diagonally.

I stuck one half of the paper onto the card and added the letters diagonally along the line of the join. In the top right hand corner I used peel off words for the greeting. On a cream piece of paper I printed my journalling and cut the paper slightly smaller than the card before inserting it with double sided tape. I printed and cut out some photos of Christmas cards I had made previously and matted them onto a scrap of the backing paper, cutting close to the outlines. I arranged these as a gallery on the opposite page of the insert.
I stuck the other half of the backing paper to the top right hand corner of the page and punched the holes for the rings to go through. I mounted the card onto the page, sightly off center to the left and added peel off Christmas greetings around the edges.

Di O's {C} page

For my {C} page I have chosen Carols and Candles. The page opens out and contains two small gusset pockets to hold little 4 page carol books and a metal tab pulls up a further area for journalling or photos.

{B} = Bits and Bobs Box

2007-01-21T10:06:00.000+01:00

By Di O

For our {B} inspiration I have made a useful desktop Bits and Bobs Box. On the slide show I have used A4 card throughout for the templates but of couse, if you use 12" x 12" you should be able to cut the larger templates from one sheet.

Try to use fairly thick card for strength and I have covered the box using a thick paper i.e. Basic Grey.

I have drawn the templates individually for accuracy but any slight imperfections can be covered when you decorate the box.

The finished Bits and Bobs Box looks like this:

Christmas Letter {B}

2007-01-14T12:17:00.000+01:00

Caroline's {B} Page:

On to letter 'B' and I have decided to go with BAUBLES!

I printed off a photo that I took Christmas 2006 of my tree and some of the decorations. I am quite 'into' scuffing and scratching of photos at the moment so I did that with this one as you can see in the slide show!

In this part of my A-Z Christmas Journal I am using Blonde Moments Festive Feast papers. For the next step I took a 6x6 piece of Cranberry Sauce and made a circle frame. Cut out and keep the centre too. Scuff around the edges - you can do this because it is white core paper and you can take the coloured layer off to give an aged look.

Layer together, however you like, onto your chosen backing card. In my case I used Herbal Green Prism cardstock and matt gold A4 card cut down to the size of my album which is 10" x 7.5". Remember, as this is a Christmas journal, glitz, glamour, gold and sparkle can be used in abundance.....don't hesitate to use up those gold and silver bits of card and paper that you wouldn't otherwise use!

I then hauled my sewing machine out and did straight stitch around the circle and green card. Don't worry if your sewing is not straight - go round again and have a double line - deliberately make it wonky so that it looks as though you meant it! If you haven't tried sewing onto paper - give it a go. Great fun and so easy! Just remember to keep one needle for fabric and a separate one for paper.

I then triple embossed using utee embossing powders. Layer it up three times to get a glossy effect and then quickly stamp onto it to achieve a textured effect. You must cover your stamp with embossing ink first though so that it doesn't stick to the hot, flexible embossing.

I then used a glitter letter 'b' from L'il Davis Tinseltown Chipboard Alphabet (love these funky letters) and stamped the rest of the word 'bauble' straight onto the gold cardstock.

Set green eyelets into the top of the page and thread gold ribbon through, tying at the back. Attach to the baubles and stick down using foam pads.

Done!!

Di's {B} Page:

For my B page I used Bell, Baubles and Beads and created a 3 tier layered page effect.

I used 3 sheets of Basic Grey folded and cut to 3 different widths. The paper is cut at an angle on the reverse of each sheet to create pockets. The cut pieces are used at the bottom to create further pockets and finally the base piece has a single side opening pocket.

I then made 7 tags to go into the pockets, a photograph on one side whilst the other side can be used for journalling and I have used both machine and hand stitching to attach the photos to the tags. Further photos and vellum quotes have been added to the fronts of the layered pages.

Letter {A} - Altered Bottle

2007-01-07T14:18:00.000+01:00

{A} is for Altered Bottle - really easy and makes a wonderful present. Use to store crafty bits for yourself or fill with something scrummy to give as a gift. Looks great on your desk too!

I used an empty Prima Flowers bottle. These bottles are just too nice to throw away when empty, so re-use them and make them look nice at the same time. Take off the labels that are on the bottle and top.

Cover with glue. I used a good old glue stick. Cover with Mulberry paper. This is great - it is fine enough to mould easily and also strong enough to withstand you messing around with it. I had a 12x12 piece of white mulberry paper which I tore in half and then used one half to tear into smaller pieces. The torn effect is nice and with smaller pieces you can get around the bottle without too many creases.

When you glue it all on and ensure the edges are glued properly, you can't really tell where each piece start and ends - kinda merges together. Fab paper to use!

Stamp on your design. Just roll the bottle over the stamp to get the full design. Or stamp onto the torn pieces of paper and then apply to the bottle for a more abstract look! If you prefer not to stamp you can use rub-ons, stickers, draw, paint, etc.

I then did the bottle top. Make a hole in the top - I used my eyelet setter. For the red design I used a silver button to place on the top, which had a shank on it. This shank sits through the hole in the bottle top and then if you attach a flat button the other side, threaded through with wire then the silver button will stay in-situ. For the pink bottle I used a pink Bazzill Bosher and a Bazzill Polka Dot brad, poked through the hole.

Get some ribbon or fibres, tie around the neck and attach charms, beads, embellishments of your choice.

Fill the bottle with little crafty bits to keep on your desk, fill with something nice to give as a gift. Create a message to someone special - how about Valentines Day. Write a mesage on a piece of paper, roll it up, put into bottle and then give it to your sweetheart! Something a little different. So easy to do and yet looks fab! I am keeping mine on my desk........I might fill it with sweeties to nibble on when I feeling a bit peckish...........hehe.....

If you fancy giving this a go, let us have pics and we can put onto this Blog or onto the Bubbly Funk Gallery - share your ideas..........and have fun!

Kaz
before

after

Christmas {A}

2006-12-31T12:38:00.000+01:00

At Alphabet Funk, our team of designers aim to inspire you every week through tutorials and photos. As a team we all love Christmas. It is an occasion worthy of commemorating throughout the year and so we came up with the idea of the Christmas Journal. Not only fun to do, but we will have a wonderful Journal at the end..........

Be truly inspired by the wonderful variety of styles and ideas in our fortnightly A-Z Christmas Journal and, for those weeks inbetween, we will be following the alphabet with insights into crafts like quilling, jewellery making and many more over the coming weeks.

Take part in our challenges, upload to the Gallery on Bubbly Funk and share your inspiration!

Be inspired here every week, with the first post Christmas Journal 'A' showing below, and thereafter every Sunday..........

This is all about getting started on your Christmas A-Z Journal. Today I will show you an example of a cover and the first letter of the alphabet.

I have decided to do my journal 9" x 6" and will be using Basic Grey Fruitcake papers throughout. I have also used some free printable illustrations that can be found at All Things Christmas and Christmas.momsbreak.com

For {A} I have decided to base my page on Angels but there are many you could use such as: Advent, Antlers, Anticipation, Almonds, Aperitif or more humourously, Appetite, Apron, Alcohol, Armchair, Asprin, and Andrews. The choice is yours!

The slide show below shows the stages of the cover from start to finish. After covering the journal with B.G. Fruitcake Plaid I then used Fruitcake Cherry and Pine, tearing the edges of the paper and inking the edges. Gold ribbon and the illustration were mounted on top and the Li'l Davis - Peace, Hope, Joy charm was added.

The chipboard BG numbers "2006" were painted with metallic acrylics and the edges distressed with ink. A hole was punched in the top left hand corner and fibres with round metal beads were threaded through.

The end result looks like this

The inside cover was finished off by adding a printed vellum Christmas poem to patterned paper and fixing in place like this:

On to our first page, the letter A.

This is made up of a base sheet just under 9" x 6" and two flaps attached by hinges. If you want to follow this design there is a slide show below. It is important to remember to decorate your flaps before you contruct them so you can hide the reverse of brads, the hinges and other embellishments.

There is a tab inserted in the lower flap so a slit needs to be cut to allow for that before you piece it all together and I have used a small magnetic dot to close the lower flap.

Before you add your photos you may want to decorate embellish the tags a little more.

The end result looks like this:

Our Christmas Journal will progress fortnightly, and you will be able to sample the work of our other talented designers at Bubbly Funk who will share with you their own Christmas Journals.

Why not join us and create your own journals, post your creations to our Bubbly Funk gallery for us all to share and some will be shown here too!

Our Christmas Journal is fortnightly but check back every week for our alphabetical journey through a whole range of crafts and inspiration.

Di W's cover and Letter A

It all begins here...........

2006-12-28T13:41:00.000+01:00

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Coming Soon................