Cut, Dried, Pressed and Preserved

I was just heading upstairs to start packing up my studio, and remembered I had not posted this. I recently discovered a beautiful way to use my dried, pressed flowers. Take a lookie...
This is an altered mini notebook.

And this is a gift tag I created over some dictionary paper and card.
To see the details you really must click on the photos and view the close ups, they look so much better.

I was flipping through some older Somerset magazines and came across this method of preserving dried flowers. The lady in the article had found the instructions in an old boy scout book. Darned if I can find this magazine, maybe I packed it up already, but I am so excited to share with you the process. It sounded so easy, so I thought ok....... try it, if you ruin a few flowers you can dry more this year.

Look at this pretty close up. It is almost transparent so they look so different depending on the background you place them on, this was taken on my patio table which is a dark brownish color.

If you want to give it a try, this is what you will need:
Wax paper, tissues (kleenex), and a mixture of glue and water.
The article said 60% glue to 40% water.

Lay out your waxed paper and make a design or collage with your flowers. Take a tissue and use only one ply , then lay gently on top of your design. Very carefully apply the glue and water over the tissue.
Now you have to leave it for about 12 hours or overnight, then using a cloth over it, take your iron and press firmly.
Ta da... now you can use this to create something beautiful :)

I want to try sewing over the tag using fabric behind it, but my sewing machine is broken. I think it would make a really nice effect.

I used a microwave flower press which I found last year to dry these flowers and they have been squished up in my dry flower press all winter. If you would like to dry flowers quickly check out my post on the Flower Press here.
I have found that the mum's I dried turned out really well, and the leaves above are from my Virginia Creeper last fall. I know when I get moved I will be doing more of this :)

Happy weekend,
Now I suppose I should go pack some supplies .

Altered Journal Scrapbook and last chance for my Giveaway

This is going to a friend :) It is a 6x6 altered journal/scrapbook. I loved this paper I came across because of the old text on the background so I did a gel skin of this beautiful little girl on the cover. There is a skeleton key and a blank tag attached to the ribbon that holds it together, this way she can add her name to it or a sentiment depending on what she is going to use the book for.

I havn't posted in almost a week because I am still not well. I think it's a virus but I am not really sure, sore throat and extreme fatigue. Since it has hung on for two weeks now I think I should get checked for strep throat so am going to the doctor tomorrow. I rarely get anything like this, I am always healthy , and I havn't taken antibiotics in over 10 years, so that's why I was kind of waiting it out. Soooooo I have not been in a creative mood, I finished this journal last week and it's the last thing I have made. I havn't felt much like blogging either, or even being online, but I have tried to visit as many of you as possible when I have had a chance.

So today my husband "MADE" me go out, he said it would do me good, that I am in the house far too much. He is right though, I havn't gone out in weeks except to the P.O, he picks up most of the groceries , there are only two of us, so why would I want to go out? He took a few hours off work and drove me too LOL... so I have come home with two new magazines (still looking for Sew Somerset, but can't get it anywhere), Cloth, Paper Scissors and Somerset Memories. I bought my first jar of modeling paste, picked us some canvases so I can do the workshop at Moss Hill Studio I signed up for weeks ago, oh yeah and then we went to Home Sense and I found shabby white frames I have been wanting and a huge plant pot with a topiary thing that attaches to it for my ivy. I have a beautiful ivy plant in my hall way and it is touching the floor, so I am hoping it will be happy when I re plant it and grow upwards for me :)

I would take a photo right now to show you, but I am just drained of energy, even after a coffee from Starbucks.

You still have a chance to sign up for my Giveaway which is two posts down my blog. I will be drawing the name tomorrow, in the late afternoon or evening. I had a thought...????? that's me thinking.... If you do not like blues as I used in the house, you may choose the heart shaped wooden piece in my Etsy shop which is in shades of browns. Ok?

I wish I had thought of this before.

I have lot's more I could talk about, but I won't right now, I will however leave you with this photo of Cooper's new best friend. Cooper incase you don't know is my 8 month old puppy, he is the black one, and the blondie is our next door neighbours new puppy and his name is Bolt. I took this two weekend ago and I cut my hubbies head off as much as I could because he was pulling faces. We were all outside gardening that day, the reason my husband has gloves on, he was moving black mulch around, so I tried getting a shot of the two new fur friends and this was the only one where they almost kept still.

Bolt named by my 4 year old neighbour from some kid's movie, is a Maltipoo, part Maltese and part Poodle, where Cooper is a Morkie, part Maltese and part Yorkie. You never really know what your dog will grow to be like though when they are mixed breeds, I was told my dog wouldn't grow to over 6lbs, well he is 12lbs now and still growing. Not that it matters to me, we love him SO much, he is my baby and he is such a good boy :)

Have a great evening, be back to draw names Tuesday.

Mind Wide Open April Challenge

Altered 6x6 journal for this months challenge at Mind Wide Open

Another beautiful image created by Gail this month, which is actually mirrored on my journal because I used the gel skin method again. These little paper mache books are so cute and very easy to take apart to alter them. I found it at Michael's last week but in the Decoupage section.
I altered it with old dictionary papers, gessoed, painted, stamped a bit and scruffed up.

I am so glad I took pictures yesterday, WOW, we are having a very windy and wet storm which started last night, we had freezing rain through the night and now it has turned to rain. YUK!!! Some people are having snow too. Welcome to Spring in Canada... a great day to stay home and play in my art room :)