This post is picture heavy, Just so you know.

 Between getting at least 250 footsteps in every hour, chatting on the phone, visiting friends and generally doing things, I have been busy in the craft room.

Lets start shall we with the made over Easter Egg box.

In the Spring of 2019 I had successfully lost quite a lot of weight, but still had more to go.  Then Easter Eggs started appearing in the shops.  Now I am an unashamed Chocoholic, and images of these delicious treats were flashing in my brain like neon lights.   It was no wonder that will power gave out and did so big time with a large luxury egg!

I enjoyed the chocolate but also quite liked the box it came in so saved that on the ever growing mountain of things to be revamped/recycled/made over/altered.   About a month ago I started to have stirrings toward this tub and so painted the base with black gesso.  It was then that the deep Washi tape near the top was added.   The purpose of this tape was to show me where the lid came to so I would not obstruct it, but I quite like it so kept in on.

Then earlier this week I checked the new challenge at Mixed Media Place this is always a mood board challenge (see their image at the bottom of this post)  I was struck by the Poured Acrylic piece and by the overriding peachy pink of the board.   That got me thinking about my new Jelly Fish stamp and perfect pearls.

Now the stamped image fits very nicely 3 times around the tub, each impression is coloured with different mica powders and each one has that merged blended but completely separate feel of the Acrylic pour and the effect I was going for.   A recent magazine set came with the Seahorse die and some sea shell stamps.  For these I used Scraps of cream card and peachy pink paper with green ink.  Each one has been fussy cut to sit on the sides of the box.  A couple of clam shells were attached in a pair with faux pearls popped inside.   Two little fish made with Air Dry Clay, my very first attempt with this medium hopefully with practice there will be improvements.  The Eyelash yarn is the last scrap that was left and makes substitute seaweed.

Around the top I used an old acrylic flourish, that I have had for at least 10 years, with fine detail Silver ep.  On the front over the stamped flourish the very last of the eyelash yarn has been attached following the flow of the stamped image.   The faux pearls in the spaces between the two stamped images are something else that I have had for longer than I can remember and just seemed to fit my overall under water theme.

Well intentionally this made over chocolate egg box probably qualifies for lots of other challenges

613 Avenue - Use Washi Tape, sorry forgot to mention the Green Washi tape around the bottom but expect you saw it!

Retro Rubber - #141 Anything Goes with a Stamp older than a year (at least 10 year old flourish)

NBUS - #17 just share something where you used never before used "new" stamps, or dies, of embossing folders etc

Creative Artiste - #63 Always anything mixed media goes

Di at Pixies Crafty Workshop has generously allowed me to enter this fortnights challenge #385 as I just missed the last one by about 4 hours!   Thank you Di much appreciated and as is generally the case please do not enter me into the prize draw.  

Now the Card, oh did you think I'd entered the challenge but had forgotten to include it here?  No here it is in all it's CAS glory

Thats right after all the stamping and colouring and glueing and fussy cutting etc for the box I just wanted to make a nice one layer, one image CAS card.

Stamped the Jelly Fish.   Using felt pens and a water brush the "body" was painted pink and the water it is swimming in given an aqua tone.   Sakura pen used neat on some of the finer tendrils and then water coloured on the broader ribbon ones.  You cannot see it here but the silvery sakura pens have added a lovely shimmer to the image giving it movement.  Finally some white pearlised acrylic paint touched into the water again for added depth and movement.

Of course there were challenges on my mind:

CAS on Friday - #187 Under the Sea

My Time to Craft - #439 Clean & Simple

Crafty Chicks - #521 Clean & Simple

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - #167 O is for Ocean (could not resist hehe)

Now before I go the other day I met a couple of immigrants from Spain.

Bungle, who had only been at his "foster" home for about 19 hours when I met him.   Sweet natured and very gentle with people inquisitive but not pushy.   He played happily with Cora and it was very moving to watch a strengthening bond grow between the two even during the short while I was there.

Cora, she has been here for about 8 weeks now and has been adopted into the family.  From the moment she arrived she has been gentle and well behaved.  She adores her humans which is understandable.  Just about 2 years old both Cora and Bungle (5 his passport says) were found abandoned in Spain fending for themselves like so very many of their kind.   Now they have a new life, and as we expect to hear Bungle will be adopted into the family very soon.  A life in what can only be described a dog haven.  acres of garden to play in which Cora and Bungle are taking full advantage of.  Lovely long walks in the countryside or nearby woods.  With people who want them and will cherish them forever.

OK I'll shut up now and leave you with wishes that you Stay safe, Keep well, wear your mask when asked, and HAVE FUN. x