You've Been Framed

So this week has been more about looking after the cat and getting him sorted. My sister's cat Zorro came to stay with us about 5 weeks ago and after 3 days managed to escape out the cat flap and that was the last we saw of him for 4 1/2 weeks! He'd come down from London and people kept saying maybe he'd tried to go home which wasn't helpful! But he was sat on the kitchen table last Saturday morning when I got up. We've been to the vets quite a lot this week getting him checked out and sorted with antibiotics and painkillers; he had a weird limp :(

So in between all that chaos there's been a slowing down on the craft front. I have managed a few bits so I thought I'd share them now whilst enjoying a lazy Sunday at home.

I picked up some old annuals for the Green Living Festival workshop that I took part in a few weeks ago and had a brainwave of other fun things I could do. My first project for them was picture frames. So I got the ol' Mod Podge and Stanley knife out the box and set down in front of the telly yesterday having a fun Saturday play afternoon!

I used a pack of cheap Ikea frames that I'd picked up ages ago ( one of those stupid shopping moments when you don't want to come away empty handed; yes I realise I'm being a slave to consumerism). They had a good wide frame though which I thought would be better for showing off the comic strips.

Check out how lovely the two colour screen printed pages are.

I used the craft blade to cut around the edge of the comics and shape them to the frame. I used the Mod Podge to stick the strips and to varnish over the top. The one I have leaves a lovely matte finish but you can get others in different finishes. It's good that you can finally get it in the UK, I've always seen so many lovely projects on crafster.org using the stuff and have always wanted some; pretty  pleased with the results so far.

Finished frames. I ended up making four different ones; it was great that they used to use different colours for the two colour prints to keep the annual interesting and define different stories.

There was a final story in one of the books that had a full colour 'Tarzan Jane' story that I couldn't resist using too.

After my last embroidery piece I wanted to do another screen print/ embroidery mix up. This time I used the carousel horse repeat that I'd printed onto a pink and white polka dot fabric.

I think it needs just a tad more before its finished but I thought I'd share anyways :)

I like to draw.... and some action shot dressmaking photos

I woke up this morning feeling awful. It's like this weird combination of hay fever; where inside my nose and throat have swollen and my eyes itch like crazy, mixed with nausea. Bad times. So I didn't go into work, instead I drew a couple of pictures and chilled out. They're for Becca from Green City and the festival that we were making the flags for ( see earlier post ;))

Here's what I've done today and some older new stuff that's lying round on my desk!

They're designs to be printed onto bags at the event.

Here's the ol' sheeet...

The British Bulldog and Stamp were for the Chapter Art Centre event CarArtBootique. Back at Easter time they had a massive art carboot style affair and Jude and Tom from the PrintHaus set up a stall printing jubilee themed bunting. I was suppose to be helping out and supplied these beauts to print but was bed ridden ill so didn't make it down. I'll have to ask Jude if she has any pics of them printed.

This is a cheeky toucan from my sketchbook.

More delights from the sketchbook.

And last but not least a drawing I was working on for the last Snapped Up market but didn't end up using.

Here's also some pictures I found on my phone, action shots from the dresses I made last week!