I recently discovered the Going Green Crafters and Artists Blog and became a contributor. Recycling and re-using/repurposing play an enormous part in my arts and crafts, partly because I am a 'penniless' artist and also because I like to do my bit for the environment. It's also a way of thinking when you're primarily an 'altered artist'...

Toady, I have posted my Scrap Fabric Bookmarks on their blog. If you have scraps or remnants of fabric and a little creative imagination, and your friends or relatives are readers, then it's very simple to make a unique and personal gift for them this Christmas (or any time, come to that!)

Check out my post HERE... There are some fab ideas on this blog - I got enthused over the book-candle-holder I saw yesterday!

Step 1: Cover the reverse (patterned side) of the puzzle piece with scrapbook paper and trim to neaten.

Step 2: Paint the plain side with acrylic or craft paint and allow a few minutes to dry.

Step 3: Stamp your images onto the red painted side and heat emboss if desired. I used Ranger archival ink and clear embossing powder.

Step 4: Run a gold Krylon or Signo pen right round the edge of the puzzle piece so that no "grey" areas are showing when it hangs.

Step 5: Punch a small hole at the bottom of the piece for a dangly embellishment and one at the top for the hanger. I used an old Christmas tree ornament at the bottom and gold embroidery floss at the top.

Step 6: Use white 3D paint for the faux snow along the top and red for the holly berries. Make sure you give it enough time to dry as it's really tacky! Finish with white gel pen highlights, if you like. I used a spray fixative and while it was still wet, I sprinkled a little fine glitter over the puzzle piece.

Easy-peasy!!

A few months ago, I made some Christmas Ornaments using giant Kids' floor puzzle pieces. Today I found out that they have been published in the Ideas Gallery section of the UK-based magazine, Craft Stamper! I thought I'd share a photo of them with you and then tell you how I made them. I'll list the materials and then tomorrow write up the easy steps to making them!

Materials:

• Kids' floor puzzle piece - I bought mine from a car boot sale. All the pieces are about 4"x6"
• Red and green acrylic/craft paint
• Scrapbook paper for the back in red/green or patterned
• Christmas-themed rubber stamps or images of your choice
• Stazon or Ranger archival black ink or similar stamp pad
• Embossing powder and heat gun, or glitter
• Gold, black and white gel pens
• 3D white paint for the fake snow effect
• gluestick
• Gold thread
• Recycled Christmas mini ornaments/cracker toys

Tomorrow I'll share how I made the first one! ;o)

Thank you for stopping by my Artfire Studio Blog. I'm delighted to be able to share more about what I do, how it comes into being and why I am here with you! I already have an established art blog on Wordpress.com, which has been running regularly for about 3 years now. That's where I talk artwork and creations, show my pieces for challenges and art groups, and promote the samples and projects I create for the 2 companies I am involved with: Lisa Vollrath's Ten Two Studios and Ria Vaneman's Home Impressions Rubber Stamp company.

I love what I do, and I love the contrast of working with 2 completely different companies - Ria's in The Netherlands and I submit to Craft Stamper magazine for her; Lisa is in Texas, USA and I create lots of very different samples using her 'surfaces' and huge range of collage images. Both ladies have encouraged me and helped me to grow as an altered and rubber stamp artist, and also as a Mixed Media artist, for which I am so grateful.

I do hope you'll pop in and read about my continuing art-ventures and what I'm currently working on...