Five layer chocolate cake

That got your attention didn't it lol

This post isn't about cake I'm afraid, but it is about layering.  WARNING lots of photos.

When I first started crafting, money was tight and I was always conscious about how much each of my cards or layouts were costing to make.  As a result I don't think my makes were very remarkable.

Well now it is going on for eleven years later and I have amassed a fair amount of stash and learned how to improvise when I don't have what I need, but the main thing I have learned in the last year is to layer.  To make what my heart tells me to make and since I don't understand the word minimalist, that now means that my makes tend to have a whole bunch of stuff on them.  Even layouts turn into a mixed media project these days.

Layering is my new best friend.  I'm still learning how to do it right.  There are so many examples out there but I am starting to understand that I need to find my own way of doing it and I think I am starting to develop my own style.

This was my first big layering project using lace and MDF embellishments, frames and flourishes from Fernli Designs

I'm not good at leaving things as they are.  I feel a need to explore the possibilities of a thing, so I end up fussy cutting and layering and looking at how to colour in order to find some thing new.  I'm inspired by things that I find flexible.  So MDF embellishments and lace that I can fussy cut are my two current favorites.

This one is fussy cut lace and flowers with lots of Fernli Designs pieces.  Chicken wire, flourishes and frames.

This is a piece that I have just finished.  

Anyone that knows me knows that I love my cogs.  They are so versatile and they layer up lovely.

I still have a lot to learn and a lot to try when it comes to layering.  I'm still finding myself and working out what goes together and what just looks a mess.

I have learned not to have chocolate cake near my crafty stash though.  Leaves a mess :)

I'm off to play.

Laters

Naomi x

Hoarding tendancies

I'm  a bit of a hoarder.  I keep things "just in case" and since I learned that I can make something out of most things I had hoarded even more.  This year I promised myself that I would start using some of that stuff up.

I bought 3 sets of wings a couple of years ago.  They are Christmas decorations.  I think I paid about 50p each for them and when I saw them I just knew they would work on some thing at some point. They were in the drawer so long that I forgot they were there.

This is what the bottle and wings turned into.

I have used an applique, lots of flowers, pearls and a Fernli Designs frame and heart on the front after painting the bottle (labels removed of course).

Side view

The lace on the back is part of a larger piece that came from a wedding dress (not mine) and the pearls down the back worked perfectly with it.

I made this one for myself, but I am considering making another so that I can do a tutorial.

I'm just putting together ideas for a DT make.  I will keep you posted on how that goes.

Laters

Naomi xx