My thought in SMASHing

It was actually through looking at some images on flickr did I discover some new. Ever heard of Smash book? From what I've been researching and watching youtube videos did I decided what it was. Basically it's form of scrapbooking which uses basic craft material no fancy album, pages, embellishments. The official folios are by K & Company have a look at this link but generally all it is grabbing all the ephemera, mementos you can't throw about and give them a home. I have been doing this stuff for years since when I was studying Foundation Art and Design by then it was Visual Diary and influence by Photojournalist Dan Eldon who died by being stoned to death by angry mob.
I keep sketch book/visual diary out of habit my idea needs some where to go. Here some sneak peek  of my scrapbook :

 This was want I was doing before basically stuck stuff without special arrangement or decorations

Samples of work, projects completed I add them here with some handwritten notes. GCSE Design and Technology we were told to annotations I thought they were pointless only at College did I realise they are important otherwise I'll forget the little details.

Paper ephemera, packaging I add them here. I love non Roman packaging: Chinese, Japanese as makes a change from see English words of every day living.

 I'm using a handmade paper journal brought from fair trading shop which is long gone. I have only a few pages left and will soon need to find new home from my treasures. This is not the only book I have 4 either in the garage or in my room some where. I'll show some pages once I've found the other scrapbooks.
I've tried scrapbooking and even brought a book on the subject but seems too formal and incompatible to the way I work as I prefer to experment and over collage.
You don't have to buy Smash folio in order to stick things I use this:

 I've found this the Arnofini and cost less than some fancy journals. I did use as diary until the frustrating of trying to write perfect lines of text. All is not lost. You just have to figure way to reuses stuff.

 Here are selections of pages there's not much as I only started Smashing early this month and then the crafting challenges and mandatory swaps got the way.

 As you see I love collage I remember in my altered book, spend a lot time making actually embellishments than actually sticking. I hope to use some of pages as a home for my tags of 2013.

 I have photos which are not yet catalogued some dating up to 2003, the time I was in Barcelona. Some sites have printable smash elements I find the links in Pinterest needs updates as some are either dead or have to plow through pages. I love to join Pinterest one day.

I ever dedicated a 2 pages to my favourite hamster Rafa. He's so sweet even thought I have Oscar I can't help missing Rafa though. I will make page for Oscar too in fact every week I try to take as many pictures as possible didn't get a chance with the Roborovski as usually active at night and very fast. Here is folio I brought from Amazon

 Red doodle book, inside all the pages are decorate to give you a head stand.

 I couldn't help buying some goodies at well. The grab books looks interest I prefer K and Co ephemera pack. In saying that I loads of scraps and paper stash, printed lots of Journalling elements and collected more flyers and leaflets. I'm a terrible hoarder.

Don't know if I'll ever get the chance to use this Red Folio because all the interested photos I've printed will ended up the Walls Journal. But life is one big journey, now I see that every day can be documented onto a page as well. Start with a month, week and day. Interesting events only happen once in a while. There's more to come on this intriguing subject in the mean time have a look this video you will hooked too.

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July tag of 2013 and some good news

I found out at the beginning of the month I'm the winner and runner up of Visible Images June Challenge: Character. Hence the new blinkie badge my prize was the choose of any clear stamps for £10 which is basically 2 stamps. Due to the random selection of winner and runner up anyone can win except for Craftstamper magazine the standards are so high. In all it is important to do your best in everything you do. Tim Holtz is launching a new load if idea-ology plus stencils I'm having trouble trying to keep up. Only joking I only choose the stuff I actually want so for July's Tag of 2003 this is my creation:

The technique was using a brayer and distress ink I barely glanced at the post so the result was make it up as I go along. Grunge board with Rock Candy crackle paint, I was little impatient with drying and rushed the process with the heat gun. Ideally it should be left for day or more but I don't get free 'quiet' slot at the kitchen table till 7pm sometimes later. A half a day is wasted through waiting and with this heatwave, crafting is difficult. My intention was make something which celebrated Handover day in Hong Kong but ended up different and random. Mistakes can be turned into something wonderful. Distress Stains were dabbed in the cracks, I made my own tissue tape as ideo-ology range is so expensive, you can use washi tape instead.
Didn't have simple saying in my collection a stamped text on vial labels works as fine, most of stamps are PaperArtsy except for the Aztec Sun which is GCS(Great Canadian Stamp). For embellishments I used Muse token attached to crinkle ribbon with mini safety pin and metal charm (not idea-ology). Grunge board is strange as it smells like new shoes, very rubber and meant to be  altered as it doesn't lie flat. Element range is hard to find I end up buying and Mini safety pin might be discontinued. Some places still sell them if you know where to look.

These are the stamps I've chosen and don't know if I have time to make something for Visible Image's July challenge.

I've discovered something new this month it's called Smash book, all it's really is sticking stuff on pages. K & Company sell these Smash book which is spiral bound and has lots of coloured pages plus there are numerous accessories. It's like what I have to spend money on a new idea when I have been doing this kind thing for years since about 2000 when I was studying Foundation Art and Design it was called Visual Diary and brought on by Dan Eldon. I did buy a doodles smash book and few stuff from Amazon, at the moment I'm using Walls Journal Notebook due the fact it becoming annoying trying to align the writing. More details on 'smashing' will later I have stuff to right now.

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My take on Tim Holtz configuration boxes

It started with matchboxes shrines and then I thought I could combine several to make shadow boxes with different compartments. I was influence by Tim Holtz idea-ology configuration boxes but these are so hard to get and on most sites only book cover type is available. There's one place I can still try Sir Stampalot I used to buy wood mounted rubber stamps and Magenta pewter stickers.

Configuration boxes are also expensive it would be cheaper to make my own after all I've done a lot of paper crafting in the past (assembling papermodels). I started with 9 matchbox layout and changed so that I could smaller shapes and these can be rearranged. Each box is made out of Paper stacks- Lost and Found with left over sheet from K and Company. It helps to check the stuff in clearance shelves for more bargain goodness. I realised I could of drew the layout in PaintShopPro or DTP along with the individual boxes and print directly on the paper. The good think about idea-ology paper stash is the other side is plain.
I certainly I won't buy the crap from Create and Craft they are so bland and also p and p builds up with each item added to basket. The presenters act like complete noobs, well any way shadow boxes are like 3D scrapbook or collage- assemblage and great way of displaying mementos.
The trouble is I have to deal with no only tiredness, but excessive noise and idiots who won't watch in tv in silence and have volume turned on full blast. Looks like I going have to invest in noise cancelling headphone at least I won't have to hear the spite comments and devil worshipping crap.
I feel a day is wasted if I don't make something.

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How Flower of Life brought back my creativity

Been a while since I last updated this page I have been busy and just when I want to blog or upload photos to my flickr account the internet connection goes kaput. Don't know what caused it maybe the weather or interference by other router. I had to buy a dongle until the problem is resolved it's fine so far. I hate surfing or doing stuff on mobile everything is small and keys touch screen a nightmare.

I was working on biscornu Pagoda or biscobud. There's isn't much of patterns, I woke today and figured out to make this type of biscornu. Use a large pattern and smaller which is less than half, third of the size is better. Next was problem was trying to assemble the whole thing together. This project is complete turns out best to make the tuffet first before attempting the pattern as both have similar construction techniques. Completed work will be in my flickr photostream. There's a biscornu kit yet to completed for some strange reason I don't like making it.

During the Olympic was hooked on kumihimo, this is Japanese style of braided cord and much easier and faster than first time I tried. You can complete in a day or so. I used bamboo cord in the picture, I made another using 2 strands of embroidery skeins. I actually find my mini kumihimo plate when tried buy another one it was sold out. This one is from Beads Direct. I brought one from Amazon turned out to be huge. The braiding plate wasn't the only thing I've lost, can't find my bead soup plus whole other stuff.

After the kumihimo adventure I decided to return to papercraft as in assembling paper models. There's something about createandcraft I'm not happy about. There's an accumulative postage on their site I brought fabric gelly roll, Little Watbo kit and Papermania watercolour pencils end up as £50 including postage. Scam and overpriced this is as bad as Hobbycraft. Well you don't need such and such to make art all you need is some imagination. This model is Azura's or Black star from Skyrim. I'm going slowly, slowly so far about 20% in completion. 

I was surfing on the internet and discovered a site which sold Friendly Plastic, I always wanted to this material. When I got my order I felt cheated because the colour is just a film on top of black strip. After much struggle I created this. I shouldn't attempt to flatten after the 3D elements were pressed in. The whole thing curves on left to right. Friendly Plastic is very malleable when heated I only need a heat gun.

For a while I felt extremely depressed just looking out of window and wondering what is life for. Then I discovered sacred geometry through watching Spirit Science videos on youtube and came across Flower of Life which has template, code from which all life is created. I made many Flower of Life atcs, mandala before deciding I was ready to make atcs again. I've completed some art books and love to share them. There's still other things to explore I thank Spirit Science for helping me to strengthen my spiritual awareness. If you are curious and have open heart take a look this channel it will enlighten.

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How long is a piece of string?

Depends on the size of the tatting motif. This time I'm learning the split ring it enables a pattern to be climbed out from the centre. Majority if antique patterns were cut and tie this was tedious as I soon discovered. Split ring is made using 2 shuttles or 1 shuttles (SSSR). There are some good videos on youtube showing both ways I find SSSR difficult to understand. 2 shuttles is much easier in fact the motifs here are worked with shuttles and not with a ball of thread.

 The green version is my first attempt there are times I forgot to add a picot or join in wrong place. The motif is from the tatter's round robin from www.georgiaseitz.com. Basic pattern for learning the split ring and mock picot you start with shuttle hs and end with normal hs on top cord.

Another split ring pattern from http://www.georgiaseitz.com/ , this is a practise attempt it's the first doily I attempted since there are a lot of mistakes. Maybe I'll do this one again the problem is during the second round the piece began to warp probally due to the errors.
I discovered there are loads of techniques to learn and aim to master most of them. Such as double/triple/quad picots, pearl tatting, cluny. The list is endless are tatting is constantly evolving I have come a long way since brought a basic kit from Roseground. Intricate work can be created from 2 strands of string and easier than traditional lace making you don't have to carry lots of bobbins. The shrink plastic shuttles are good for holding top thread since rings need a good length of cord to make.
Hopefully I can get this doily finished to attempt split chain.

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Tatting continues

Inspired by shuttles on google I decided to make some of my own using shrink plastic. I love this stuff it's magical, a thin sheet when heated becomes 7 times thicker. There's lot of shrink plastic in my collection which are not used much. The clear shrink plastic feels like acetate, I was intented to use that for jewellery.

The handmade ones are about 5 cms and perfect for using smallest amount of cord as possible. Some shuttles are self closing which means the cord won't fall out when tatting but tends to run out quicker.

I still trying to complete the pointed star challenge using template by Teryl's hollins. First of all I tried to create each indivdual piece only to be confused and which part to join because when you are working the design is reversed. Started again do 1st run and then the 2nd switching shuttles to create a double crescent.  Almost completed and can do SCMR without referring to the instructions. By learning new techniques it will make tatting a motif easier. After a while it becomes repetitive after a while.

Completed 16/12/2010

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Short break from MMORPG- Grand Fantasia.

In the rare moments I don't play Grand Fantasia I do crafting to keep my mind active. I managed to completed a beaded pendant which has been lying around unfinished for many months. Didn't know how to finish it off.

It doesn't have title but there are more details of this pendant on my flickr photostream. In the meantime I'm working on my next project.

The plastic packaging makes a good bead and paper pricking board and a good way of reusing. I dislike throwing stuff away are they might have uses elsewhere. I still run into the problem of colour choosing but see it was this was if you use what you have than wouldn't need to waste money on impulse items. I hear stories on create and craft or crafty magazines reader lost a whole room to their crafting materials. Thinks of the Wombles of Wimbledon Common and you can't go wrong. Make use of good rubbish.
I think I will return to Grand Fantasia.

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Update on the RZ028 Blade Liger papercraft project

I have spent 2 week making the front legs with the majority of time is guess work, if there were any instructions they would be in Korean as there are some Korean text on some of the sheets. In order for one section to be completed nearly all the parts needs to be made and it's so tedious. You are making the same part 8 or more times and also I had some problems printing on chocolate card as the black ink become faint on the second sheet. Border less printing is recommended in order to get the maximum size of the templates. Not very clear in the enclosed images, the legs are symmetrical- both sides are same as other only the top section which gives indication of direction( right or left and the only parts numbered). There 2 parts not shown in photos. This model is quite a challenge but build-able. One of those models which the sections are rendered individual in 3D program before unwrapped in pepakura. I going to return to making conventional pepakura model, how about something from WOW- World of Warcraft. It will take 2 weeks or so to complete the hind legs. Any instructions will be added later or once the whole thing is completed, there might be a chance someone else is building the model.
View the completed head.

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Completed and Current Projects

I know it has been a while since my last post because I spend majority of my time playing Grand Fantasia. Mostly in the evening because whenever I try to play in the afternoon some one gets pissy and acts a drama queen. What I hate most is this individual is an attention seekers and receives special help when they are not entitled too goes while in being in a dysfunctional family. Well, I'm going to die early because can't get a decent night sleep because much of my time is restricted. I dislike being restricted in any way (FULLSTOP.)

 

This is what I'm currently doing, RZ028 Blade Liger, I discovered it from ipapercraft and this model is hard. First of all there are no instructions, over 40 pages in pdf. The pages are best printed in borderless otherwise the tabs are too small to fold and glue. So far I managed to complete the head with after some fiddling, there are left over parts I have no idea where they go. (More photos will be uploaded as I go along) I'm using the enclosed images as reference yet there are doubts if the body can't be built. Oddly enough, I added details of this paper model in /po archives back in February and only in April did this it appear on other papercraft sites.

Yes, the Gundam Wing Zero is finally finished. There are instructions on this model check out the /po archives. I couldn't find any dark grey card stock so had to resort to colouring in. This is model is top heavy and need some support at the back. Additional parts are the stand and arms which I couldn't be bothered to build.

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My attempts at tatting.

On Tuesday I finally made an attempt at tatting, at the moment I'm using the shuttle method later on I will try the other method needle tatt and also I brought a beginners guide on the subject. My first impressions were it is tricky and after a while I quickly got the hang of it. Still don't understand how the shuttle thread picks up the first thread to form a loop it just does. If the shuttle thread is caught usually means something is wrong.

I didn't follow the instructions properly and forgot to reverse the chain before a ring. I had the problem of loose thread and shrinking length of thread loop while the ring was being tatted. Solved this problem of starting close the end of the chain and lengthen the loop by reverse pulling the thread.

At first I didn't like making rings because they took a long time to make but usually I find the tatting process is very quick to complete compared with cross stitching. I discovered by pulling the thread of the chain I can keep the tatting more uniformed. Here's my second attempt at first edging.

I feel like with each practise I'm being more confident at tatting. Last night I attempted the medallion motif which involves the joining of rings via picots. I finally figured how the picot gauge works because the measurements were in Imperial only by measuring with a ruler was whole thing clear. Don't understand why America kept Imperial measurements here in the UK the metric system was adopted decades ago. Never mind I usually figure out these things out. The Gundam Wing Zero paper model still isn't finished because a piece was lost. The whole thing is almost complete I need to assemble the wing structure.
Things have been slow because I haven't slept well since last Wednesday and discovered the wonders of online RPGs- check my mailart blog for more details.

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Tatting and papercraft

I recently brought another tatting kit, you can buy it from roseground. The first time heard about tatting was in Bead Magazine, they featured a article about a trip to Japan and a tatted necklace was given as present by a student in beading class. Then in same magazine different issue there was another tatted necklace, I thought why not give tatting ago. Searching for tutorial is a nightmare because I hate following written instructions and prefer to view diagrams. There many pages of different terms it felt intimidating so I brought this kit despite downing 71Mb worth of tatting information. At a glance it feels like macramé but more close to knit making and there is prospect of making your own design. I have nagged by my cousins to sell my creative work they have seen my jewellery. One day I will reopen my Etsy shop just not now.

Another skill to master, at one time I wanted to give amigurumi- Japanese crochet stuffed dolls a try. One thing at a time. So far it has been hobby work.

Like papercrafting, I have been working this on 3 days now and not much progress has been made. I decided to try assembling SD version of Gundam Wing Zero. One problem no instructions so I had no idea how to even attempt this models. So I spent first 2 days making parts, on the third day I got bored and annoyed. There has to be instructions because what about inside parts. It turns out there are instructions a lot of people could be bothered to plough through pages of the Model creator's blog. Papercraft.wikidot.com does has translated Japanese instructions of the Gundam Wing Zero. In fact you can get the them from the Mediafire link. It came all too late as I had missed up on helmet parts and need to reprint them again, even with instructions some parts are you need to decide how to glue them together like the helmet wings. The other Gumdam papercraft completed is Musha Samurai SD.(Currently not in folder in flickr, I hope to retake pictures of selected finished models.)
I hope to finish the at least the upper torso and remake the head this evening. At this rate it should take me over a week to complete that is I'm not distracted by Wiiware, a new downloaded game. 

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