Midnight Reverie

Recently I went for a drink and meal with my ex-husband.  He told me about The Night Circus and said that as soon as he started reading it he thought of me and knew I would love it.  I decided to pick it up from WHSmith's on the way to work one morning - unusual for me as I usually only buy books second-hand.  I fell in love with it instantly.  It was so magical.

Imagine my surprise when a week later my favourite place on the web, Deviant Scrap, released the Midnight Reverie collaborations based on this wonderful book.

I instantly bought a handful of the kits (enough to get the freebie too) and prepared to create.  I didn't get time until tonight ...

You can see Celia and Marco here - not quite seeing the grey man - virtually see-through - creating their world and manipulating them through the game.

Poppet and Widget - the red-haired twins born on the inaugural night of the Cirque de Reve - invite you to join in the fun. 

Please click on the photos for the full credits.

Three Muses Challenge - Steampunk

The word makes me so annoyed ... don't ask why ... it's a culmination of bad experiences and other things ... however I love the steampunk look.  So seeing this challenge did make me internally scream however I really wanted to play around with a couple of new kits I'd bought from Deviantscrap so I thought I'd put aside my prejudices and have a go at Steampunking up Benedict Cumberbatch.


Credits: Rucola and Mr Whiskers

Take A Word Challenge - Butterflies

 

For credits click on image.

For Take A Word Challenge - Butterflies.

Eduardo Recife - inspired by Digitalmania

I'd love to have more time to create.  Yesterday was my first day off in months - I'm finally on Summer Break after an exhausting summer term and summer school for a week.  I'm just looking forward to relaxing, sorting out the flat, seeing friends and family and simply having Polly-time!

One of my favourite challenges that I've discovered is the Digitalmania challenge on Flickr.  Each week they choose an artist or a movement to inspire us; and I have to say that I have been VERY inspired by some of the choices.

This week was Eduardo Recife and I have fallen head over heels in love with his work:

I tried to do justice to his brilliant work in my own 'inspired' piece:

 

 [click on the image for credits]

Not quite there but I was pleased with it!

I think I will try some more 'inspired' pieces later though.

Letting Go ..

 

365.1

I'm hoping that I can create a digital collage a day for my digital art journal.  This is day one created entirely from Crowabout Studio B's kits over at Deviant Scrap.

I've had a week off work this week as it's been half term. I didn't have anything planned for the week however now it's Friday and the guilt is setting in that I haven't done anything productive.  Our studio still needs sorting, there's washing to be done, the bedroom needs a spring clean ... and I've spent a lot of the week slobbing on the sofa, doing bits and pieces for my Etsy shop and to be honest, sleeping.  I've been sleeping A LOT.

What annoys me is that I'm making myself feel guilty!  WHY?  I've worked my ass off this school year and I need this break - especially seeings as I'm doing two weeks of summer school as well.

So this is me, just letting it go, letting the guilt fly away and enjoying my last couple of days of peace and quiet.

Free Digital Collage sheet - Commercial and Personal Use

Here's a freebie for you all - enjoy!

Take A Word Challenge - Wedding

 

See here for credits

Insomnia strikes

Urgh, I've been awake since 1:30am - just woke up in blind panic about my Year 11s.  My GCSE lot I'm fine about but my BTEC class have been useless.  They have a couple of bits to finish off before Friday and are they bothering coming in to do them?  I just don't understand it.  I really don't.

So I've been sitting here, watching documentaries on t.v and having our furry friends run rampant all over me.  Yes, our pushkins are now settled in and living happily Chez Us!

Say 'hi' to Fidget (!!!):


and Boo:
  
Love 'em both so much - they're crazy and fun.

Other than that I've opened up Fidget & Boo on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/FidgetandBoo where you can buy some groovy downloadable writing sets and Photoshop Brushes.
If you don't like Etsy you can buy the goodies here.

One more week of Year 11s and then my life will start returning to me - YAY!

Crowabout Challenge, zetti me and furry additions

Nancy's collage sheets have always inspired me to try out different things.  Today was no different. Here is my collage based on this week's sheet:

Click on image to see credits

Later today we should be welcoming two more furry residents to our household.  We are adopting two rescue cats tomorrow and here they are:

Yes, these do look like 'Wanted' photographs for cats - they look properly narked don't they?  Poor things are about 18 months old and were found in a dustbin in Peckham.  They've been with the rescue centre for a couple of months and are still really shy.
We know it's going to take time and patience to draw them out of their shells but hopefully they are going to enjoy life with us.  We've already set out their area in our living room as they'll be living in just the one room for a week or so until they gain their confidence in us.  Currently they are named Brooke and Bonnie.  I don't think they're going to stay with those names.  Our current favourites are:
Bandersnatch Cumberband (after Benedict Cumberbatch spell-checks)
Phillomena Daggart (after a name we discovered in Nunhead Cemetery - Philander Daggart)
However - these names might just be too pretentious and crap.  We shall see.  I don't think we'll name them until they've lived with us for a while.
Hopefully I can post some photos of them tomorrow in our home - unless they spend the whole time hidden under the sofa!

Edit: Some time later!
I still can't sleep so I've been up making these horrid little digital zetti dolls of myself:

This was the first one and I look very moody although I do like it!  It's very me! ha ha: 

 

 Then I did this one where I look a bit, well, special in the head!:  

 And finally I did this one, which isn't really zetti but it's a 'doll' of me - that's NOTHING like me:  

 Go to Tumble Fish Studios blog for more details on how to zetti yourself :)

Take A Word Challenge - Gentlemen

The pleasures of insomnia means that I can take time to take part in challenges.  I KNEW I had to use an Oscar Wilde quote with this one:

 

Credits:
Borders and labels: Tumble Fish Studio at Deviant Scrap
Gentleman: Resurgere at Deviant Art coloured by me.
Layers: FidgetResources
 It's the first time I've tried colouring a bw photo - it's kind of hidden under the layers but I was quite pleased with what I'd done. I must try to do some more.

I've been quiet ...

... because of work work work.  Seriously, why does work suck every minute out of my life?  And now, guess what?  I've come down with a cold and chest infection ... AGAIN :(  I'm such a sick pup.

Anyhoo I've been dragging my sorry ass into work so now, this bank holiday weekend, I've been relaxing (read SLEEPING) to try and get over it.

I made a 'digital kit' again today; it's not brilliant but it's usable (I'm really 'selling' it here aren't I?).  But you are free to use it for whatever you want ... as in FREE!

Download it from here

enjoy!

My first free digital collage kit :)

I've been writing letters again.  My spate of creating my own writing paper has encouraged me to start writing letters - and sending post-cards.  I signed up for Postcrossing and received my first post-card from Germany yesterday.  A lovely vintage style Peacock:

 

Advertising a store that the sender said is now defunct.

I also arrived home from a particularly shitty day at work last week to a surprise - someone had written to me from Flickr and wanted to swap mail art with me.  I promptly sent off a letter, a few sheets of my writing paper and this envelope to her:


I really enjoyed making the envelope but I think coupled with my writing paper it was a bit 'sensory overload'!  But I definitely think I might start making more envelopes and writing paper.  Perhaps even give-away some sets.

Click on image to read credits.

 Anyway - as always - let me know what you think?  Should I create my own writing paper and envelope sets?  Would someone like to try them out for me if I made a set of 3 sheets and envelopes?  I'll send it to you for free and you can let me know what needs changing or whether 'the girl done good' :)

If you want me to send you a set please email me at: fidgetrainbowtree@gmail.com

Finally - I've made a mini-digital collage kit that you can download for free from here. It's a set of postage marks, stamps and bits and bobs.  Usual TOU apply - enjoy.

Screenland Beauties

 

Here's a new collage created using some wonderfully hot screen beauties.  You can find them all here on my Flickr account.  Enjoy playing.  Share your creations if you do any!

Credits:

pictures on wall and woman's head - Screenland magazine from my collection (see Flickr to use)
crazy, crown, heart, star and border - Tumble Fish Studio at Deviant Scrap
Body and legs - Crowabout StudioB at Deviant Scrap
Background - Beth Rimmer at Deviant Scrap

Three Muses Challenge - Bathing Beauties

 

Bathing Beauty and seaside background: Rubyblossom on Flickr
Everything else from Tumble Fish Studio at Deviant Scrap

How nice was it to finally be able to sit down this evening and do some collages?  Since being back at work on Monday after the flu and Easter hols it's been craziness.  It always is this time of year if you teach Year 11s (or indeed post-16) as you're trying to get all their coursework in because the lazy little *&^£&^Q@ haven't bothered doing it all year.  I'm trying not to panic but I need it all in by next Friday and they're still not turning up to extra sessions.  Anyway - I won't whinge or moan - if I was honest it was the way I was at school.  I always have been a lastminute.com person.

Other than that I'm still not completely over my flu.  I have swollen glands in my neck and very full of cold.  It sucks.

Sorry I'm really moany at the moment so I'm going to shut up now.

Take A Word Challenge - Skinny 3" x 5"

The Take A Word Challenge this week was to create a 'skinny' collage. 

I found this quote in my book of quotes (a book I collect quotes in!) and I decided to use this because it spoke to me about the idea of wanting to be 'skinny' (in an oblique way) and also in the 'skinny' size.



 
Credits:
Girl and glasses: Tumble Fish Studio - Lowbrow
Border: Various from Tumble Fish Studio and Crowabout StudioB
Green Star: Metal Momma - Holliewood Studios
Brushes - from my collection

Three Muses Challenge - Steampunk

OH HOW I HATE THAT WORD!  This was a hard one for me.  I have a love/hate relationship with Steampunk.  I love the look, the feel etc. but there are various reasons that I hate it. I won't go into it because I'll probably offend someone but I will be content with my love/hate relationship.  Therefore doing this challenge definitely was that for me!  I don't think I've done a particularly great job but it's ok.

Credits:

Building: Goldenthrush
Gears: RedHeadStock, NieblaStocks - all at DeviantArt
Glasses: iKink
Woman: Tumble Fish Studio - Freestyle
Frame: Beth Rimmer - Diary Declassified
Overlay: Altered Emporium - I'm With The Band

End of holiday ...

... today is the last day of our escape to the country.  We are on Mr Fidget's family's farm in Wales where I only seem to get wi-fi at silly-o'clock in the morning! 

I got some great postcards and vintage books this week so will be posting some freebies this weekend.

Hope you're all well xxxx

Take A Word Challenge - Egg

I DO love a challenge ... I thought I'd take part in the Take A Word Challenge which this week was 'egg'.  Here's my entry:

Credits:
Border - HA!Designs
Border and chicken - SassyArts
Girl with eggs - mimi_1993
All found in the Collage Images Group on Flickr

Lettering: Vintage Lettering Kit - Tumble Fish Studio
and
Various - Crowabout StudioB

Layers - from my own collection

Snail Mail

When I was younger I had MANY penpals - the highlight of the morning was the post arriving and letters, tapes and FBs (Friendship Books) dropping into view.

I don't get much time to write any more even though I am still very much in touch with 5 of my old penpals - I still count them amongst my best friends!  Recently I decided to start writing more letters and the search for decent writing paper ensued.  I'm a big fan of Tara Mcpherson and got this lovely set from the Flood Gallery in Greenwich :)  However, I needed more variety!  So I started designing my own.  I'm going to try and design a range with paper and envelopes later this week - so keep an eye open for the free download and let me know what you think!

Btw. I recommend for best printing using an inkjet - use 100gsm pure white paper.  The colours are a lot perkier!
Check the set page on Flickr to see the credits for the elements used.

Sharing ...

I thought I'd do a blog on people who have used some of my free resources :)  I found all of these on Flickr - if you want to be 'featured' just drop me a line x


AutumnSensation on Flickr used one of my faces on the image in the bottom right hand corner and it was featured in The Stamper's Sampler :)  You can find the original sheet here if you want to create your own!

- BlueRidgeLady - using the same sheet

*veronuchika(y-tu)* from this sheet 

panykattack - using this sheet

LauraPM using a lady from this sheet

by tammybeck using this sheet

Some wonderful work here :) If you've used any of my resources let me know I'd love to see what you've created x

End of March Freebie

So here's the freebie for this week - just for blog readers:

and another that's also on my Flickr account:

Enjoy using - but don't forget the terms of use!

So it's been a while ...

... and I've been missing playing with paper ephemera, creating a mess and sharing sharing sharing.

I've unfortunately been knocked down with the worst flu bug I've ever had in my life.  The first four/ five days were spent with a fever, hallucinating, weak, feeble and sweating to the point where I dreamed I was drowning.  Thankfully the severity of that has passed and I'm now simply exhausted and full of mucus (tmi?).  The enforced sick leave has left me feeling very stressed and depressed - which was thankfully relieved by one website yesterday ... DEVIANT SCRAP RETURNED MY SANITY!

Last year I'd downloaded a couple of kits from there; unfortunately I lost them when a hard drive had a bit of a hissy fit - thankfully the wonderful Hollie returned the keys to me so I could use the kits again.  On top of that my bank balance groaned (they're really not expensive at all!) as I bought more and more kits.  I just found my creative juices over-flowing and my mind was kept from stress and the big-D!

I've been creating journal layouts to build on - here are a few:

 You can see the whole set here on Flickr - with the links to the kits used.

I've also started to do some writing paper - I can never find writing paper that I like so this seemed to be the solution:

For details about the kits used go to the Flickr set here. 

Enjoy!