Hi, I'mmmmmmmmmmmmm back!

This has been quite a week. So I decided to take the time off to fully be in the week.
I hope you all have had a great week and I missed you.
I got back from my friend Jodi's after book making and staying up all hours, going out with her and Jimmy to dinner at BJ's with Mojito's (Yum) with no major problems. I had a great time, which is probably the only reason I kind of slid through the whole week of interesting changes.

I would go over it for you but, I would rather not rather not relive that week again. Everybody is alive and well, so it is all good in the end.

I taught Jodi how to do the Coptic binding to the best of my ability. She liked it and we each made a Halloween Scrapbook by combing the Coptic book binding with Scrap-booking. I mean, it had to go there, right?
These are the cutest books, I will show you those at a later date.
What I wanted to share with you was this book I made with a closure on it.

I glued some clay pieces on the front.
Jodi bought me a new toy, it is called Big Bite. It made those pretty little holes you see in the book above. I am in love with this thing, beats the heck out of an ice pick any day!!
That is how I made my holes in the books before. Sets eyelets too. ;-D

Nothing better than a tool that does a great job! I have a bunch of other things in mind for this baby too.

Coptic binding on the edges with waxed linen beige cording.

Craft paper pages for journaling or artwork.

But... tiny! Isn't it cute? 2" tall by 1 1/2" wide.
I just had too.
I set the eyelet on the back for the string to tie the book closed with my new tool too.

I just tied a piece of the waxed linen through the eyelet with a square knot and bam! you have part of a closure.

That cording ties around a brad and a circular piece of card stock to make the closure.
The hole for the brad was cut with the Big Bite too. The big bite is not just a hole punch, it cuts through chip board and multiple layers of chip board like butter. It also has a long reach on it which makes it perfect for books.
Have a great week everyone. Be well, and breathe.
Did any of you have an all out crazy week last week?

More of the scrapbook!

Yesterday, I slept all day.
I told you about the cold I had before. Well, It came back with a vengeance.
Knocked me down and continued to flog me for a few days.
We have what we call in Southern California , Santa Ana weather conditions. These have not helped by drying me out, as I would imagine they would, they have made me feel awful.
It is so dry that I have had nose bleeds all day yesterday. This just sucks.
My head hurts so bad.



Anyway... whining over, here are the other pictures to the scrapbook! You can find the first part here
http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/05/jodi-and-i-spend-weekend-paper-crafting.html
After this I am going back to sleep!

Another lovely paper, flap closed.

Flap open tags inside.

Tag out so you can see behind.
I though the paper with the alphabets was too big, but I think it looks good.

Flap closed and pages facing each other. This is how the pages will look when you open the book. These pages have a slightly green cast to them.

Next 2 pages and these have a slightly blue tint to the pages. I do adore domino's, so this paper is perfect for me!
You can also see how the tag fits in the top flap and in to the small flap on the right of the left page.
Hard to believe I wrote that with this cotton covered head.

The right page with the tag in the bag, but no tag in the flap or little pocket next to the rivets  and along the bottom.

Another awesome paper, I love the music sheet.
No tags for this one yet!

Writing happens to be one of my favorites too and with this brown fabric looking paper I wish I would have put this is the front of the book. The part of the paper that has the darker pattern over the top of it is glossy, nice contrast to the matt paper.

Here is the last page, it is the same as the front page facing the cover or I should say it matches that one.

Here you can see it with the inside cover of the album.

Binding this one was not working for Jodi or I. We used rings and then cables and it was just not opening right.

I had bought some wire cable necklaces from a gem fair I went to and tried those on the book.
The book opens nicely and the pages fall flat when you open them.
I think they are going to work. This is the bottom of the front cover.

Tah Dah!
Night-night!

Angel maker!

Shelley's Phoenix BOH

Sorry about yesterday and not posting in the morning. I went to my friend Jodi's over the weekend after clay day and on Saturday I made things from 10am to 2 am the next day. I got up on Sunday and did it from 9am to 9 pm.
I was exhausted Sunday when I got home and just couldn't bring my self to do another thing after a massive making weekend. I adored it, every moment of it.

Clay day we had so much fun and made Bottles of Hope for Moore's Cancer center at UCSD again.
We made over 80 bottles for the center.
I have pictures too!
Everyone there, thank you so much for working and playing so hard, ya all did so good!!

Jodi and I Paper play

Then I left there and went to my friend Jodi's to craft some more.
I was doing some paper arts with her and making a couple of things, I will have more on these two things later.

Right now I want to introduce you to an artist I admire and respect so much, Susan Hyde.
Susan has just opened a Etsy store.
In my opinion Susan makes some of the most artful and heartfelt angels I have ever seen.
Go visit her and heart her. Her clay "fabrics" that she dresses her angels in are not painted and her techniques in polymer fabric making are beyond compare.
We all know how hard it is to get started on something new in life and it is always nice to have a hand up.
Welcome her to Etsy and see some beautiful angels made by a beautiful woman and friend!
I have had the complete pleasure of working with Susan and I have several of Susan's pieces and the work and detail is meticulous.
Welcome to Etsy, Susan, may you make many contacts and sales.

Looks like this is turning out to be an angel kind of week. I think I will follow, I could use some angels.

If you would like to participate in the 17th giveaway, there is a picture and a link on the right top side bar.
Comment and you could win an angel.