Saturday, September 26, 2015

Stepping My Toe Back Into the Warm Water of Pink Saturday

Pink Saturday is an idea that was dreamed up by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound. I participated every week for almost a year - managing to collect more photos of pink stuff - from the giddy camp to the most luxe - but I stopped blogging for a while, and when I got started in again, I had rather ignored Pink Saturday as something that was fun from my blogging past.

Then I found these photos - and, as it happens to be Saturday - I decided to gently dip my toe back in the warm, calming pool that is Pink Saturday!

To see the amazing array of pink lusciousness that is in the world, visit here, where you will find the blogs which all participate in the phenomenon of Pink Saturday!

This is Sketch tearoom. 
I first discovered Sketch through Paris Hotel Boutique.
Conceived by French master chef Pierre Gagnaire and restaurateur Mazouz, it has attracted unprecedented media reaction for its myriad food, drink and entertainment styles since it opened in December 2002.
 
If you're going to be in London, and want to go to Sketch,
click the address link and you will go to a map.

 
 
... now go make something beautiful!
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)(¸.•´ 
(¸.•´♥ Tristan
 
 It's never too early to start planning Hallowe'en costumes!

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Winner! WINNER! Chicken Dinner!


Using the Random Number Generator, the winner was Comment #10... 
Which means the winner is Teri of Papercrafts by Teri

Terri won the hand crafted Marie Antoinette 
Luggage Style Album
Terri, if you will email your mailing address to tristan@tristanrobinblakeman.com
I'll get your prize right out to you!

Thanks everybody for playing!

Try to get all your friends to become followers...we'll have an even bigger giveaway contest
when the membership level reaches 1000!

... now, go make something beautiful!
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)(¸.•´ 
(¸.•´♥ Tristan
 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

It's Marie Antoinette and The Gilded Lily Day!



Today is Alpha Stamps celebration of all things Marie Antoinette and the fabulous "The Gilded Lily" paper and embellishment line from Graphic 45.

I have two projects to share with you, so I'll dive right in and not spend a lot of time twittering on! To view any photograph more closely, just click on it and a larger image will pop up.

I hope you enjoy seeing Marie Antoinette's carriage, which houses a lace storage album. Since it's a little hard to see what's actually happening with the operation of the carriage and it's album, here's a short video that will show you ...
 
If you'd like a closer look at parts of the carriage and lace storage album, here are some photos. You can click on each one to get a much larger image.




To make one for yourself, this is the list of supplies that I used - almost all are available from Alpha Stamps.com.


Marie’s Carriage and Lace Storage Album – Supply List
Graphic 45 “Gilded Lily” 12”x12” Paper Pad

Graphic 45 “Gilded Lily” 8” x 8” Paper Pad

Medium Weight Chipboard  (available at most craft and art supply stores)


Brenda Walton Framelits w/Stamps 660254 (oval die used to cut portraits and frames)
http://www.alphastamps.com/p18844/Framelits_Dies_&_Stamp_Set_-_Bonjour_Paris/product_info.html

8mx4mm Teardrop Pearl with Loop

Laura Carson Ornate Rococo Frame (used on front of album cover)

Textured Elements Jeweled Flowers – White

White Curly Petal Paper Flower Sprays

Vintage Velvet Pansies – White

White Foam Stamen

White Petaloo Leaves

1” Natural Cotton Lace

5/8 Inch White Zig Zag  CottonLace

Cotton Lace Sampler Set

Tim Holtz Lace Trimmings

3/8 Inch Looped Ivory Lace

7/8 Inch Fancy Fan  Ivory Lace

Tim Holtz  Worn Book Cover – Chronicle

Tim Holtz Ring Binder Large

The crown on top of the carriage, the wheels, and the birdcage on the porch are all items from my crafting stash.

The other item I wanted to share with you is a much smaller - and much less time consuming project! It's an altered Altoid tin which has been transformed into a Magic Potion shop - right in time for Hallowe'en.


 If you don't have an Altoid tin you can pick one up from Alpha Stamps here. I actually prefer using the tins from Alpha Stamps because they don't have the raised lettering embossed on them found on Altoid Tins. 

 All of the miniature bottles and flasks are from Alpha Stamps also. There is a huge variety here and here. All of the bottles I used, I filled with glitter and micro beads - and the bead flasks are small beads with miniature beads used as lids and/or stoppers. The other items are from my stash of crafting treasures!

The flowers that I used on the sides are available here. However, while you're there, check out the amazing array of paper flowers and fabric flowers Alpha Stamps keeps in stock.

So, that's today's Marie Antoinette and "A Gilded Lily" projects ... BUT - while you're here, be sure to check out my giveaway prize celebrating my 800th follower. You can enter to win the prize here.  Oh! I guess you would like to know what the prize is! It's one of my handmade photo albums with a Marie Antoinette theme. Good luck!
... and after you register to enter the giveaway contest, go make something beautiful!

¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)(¸.•´

(¸.•´♥ Tristan

  
  







Steampunk Gatefold Album - Part 2

http://basicallybare.com/blog/?p=3047
I have finished my Steampunk Gatefold album and there are lots of pictures of the embellishments and techniques used on the Basically Bare Blog.

I hope you'll click over there and take a look ... and please leave a comment there so I know you visited ... all of your comments always mean so much to me!

... and then go make something beautiful!
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)(¸.•´
(¸.•´♥ Tristan
 
Ethel Barrymore (grand-aunt of actress Drew Barrymore) in "Clair de Lune"
 

Friday, September 11, 2015

Steampunk Gatefold Album - Part 1

Please visit the Basically Bare Blog and see my latest project there.

And be sure to leave a comment there - it's great to know you was there!
... and then go make something beautiful!
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)(¸.•´

(¸.•´♥ Tristan
Remember, there's still time to enter the giveaway contest. 
To enter your name, click here

Enjoy what's left of the summer!

Monday, September 7, 2015

Hallowe'en Haunted Village Event! Bwa ha ha!


 
It's that time of year again - the annual Hallowe'en 'spooktacular' event by the clever and skilled artist Laura Carson at Artfully Musing! If you aren't familiar with the brilliant miniature treasures that Laura creates, this is the perfect time to get acquainted with her and her work!

Laura has long been one of my favorite and respected artists (my oft reiterated statement is that I'm going to be her when I grow up!)...and now I'm honored to serve on the Alpha Stamps design team with her - so I can pick her brain (figuratively, of course) as much as she will put up with!

This years haunted village is nothing short of amazing (after awhile you simply run out of superlatives to use!). Take time to enlarge every photo of each and every house in the haunted village - from The Happy Bat Tavern to Grizelda's House of Beauty - and enjoy every detail she has lovingly and skillfully created.

I promise you're going to want a nice cuppa to sit down and peruse the village leisurely and admiringly! 

Then, after you've painted the town orange-and-black, go to Alpha Stamps. Be sure you click on the "full newsletter" to get information about haunted house swaps, lots of the materials that are available there which Laura uses to create her haunted masterpiece - a haunted house kit! - and a great array of Hallowe'en crafting goodies which are part of the weekly Alpha Stamps giveaway!
Then, remember the day isn't complete...until you make something beautiful!
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)(¸.•´
(¸.•´♥ Tristan
 
 




Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Making a Miniature Étagère … Making a WHAT?

My latest adventure in the fab Basically Bare products has been posted. Please stop in and take a peek - and leave a comment that you were there - it means a lot to us!

Making a Miniature Étagère


...Now, go make something beautiful!

¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)(¸.•´
(¸.•´♥ Tristan