PRINCESS - something different

Hello everyone! I'm trying something different as you might know; a new style of digital stamp! I am still going to continue with my Pin-Up series but I wanted to try something else. It’s quite cutsey, and sweet and I’m liking it more and more. It is more complicated to do however since this style has a lot more detail and so involves a lot more work in Photoshop to get the line-work juuust right. Luckily my parents gave me a drawing tablet for my birthday in November which speeds things up.

This week you’ll have seen all the wonderful projects my design team have made on the Facebook page using on of my latest digis 'Princess' (check them out, you wont regret it) and now I’d like to show you what I've been making using this digi this week. I have to say I have really enjoyed using it (not to toot my own horn or anything). Enjoy! 

Delicate Peach

This is the first card I made, its a little 5 x 5in scalloped edge card. I usually do big cards and projects so I thought it would be a good idea to challenge myself to make something small, plus I do like a nice scalloped edge. As I was designing her I was picturing her in a peach dress with brown hair so it made sense to colour her like that the first time I used her. 

Feeling Blue

I think this one is my favourite, it has a slight Alice in Wonderland vibe to me. The blues just seem to work really well together and I think this is the best blonde hair I've ever coloured. Shading hair is always tricky, especially blonde as it’s really easy just to make it too yellow. I love these heart shape doilies, I think I’m going to be using them a lot, they are so versatile.

Sweet Pansy

Speaking of versatility I've used another doily here, a circular one this time. By folding it in half many times and with some persuasion have been able to concertina it. Not sure if this is something that’s been done before or I've just made it up but it’s great for adding height and layers. 

Lace and doilies seem to work particularly well with this image. ‘Princess’ is certainly turning out to be quite the versatile image. I'm even thinking about doing a Gothic/Lolita themed card and colouring her dress in a deep purple or burgundy with black accents. Ooh and roses, roses would be good.

If you are interested in this digi stamp you can find it in my etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JiggeryMakery. She is called ‘Princess’ and on at a reduced price for a limited time.

This is the first digi of this kind, please let me know what you think of it and if you want to see more. 

Thanks everyone, till next time!

Hello 2015! Lets catch up

Hi everyone! I hope you are all well and I know it’s late but happy New Year! I have had major internet troubles since New Year’s Day, so I haven’t been able to get on line. But on the plus side it has meant I've had no distractions for the past few days and so I have been quite productive. Well productive for me that is.

So let’s catch up. Christmas was pretty good. I’m a bit of a last minute shopper but it all worked out in the end. I even manage to make a few gifts. I painted some pictures for my brothers children with their names and something they liked on. It was fun to paint them and good practice but it took daaaaays. I won’t be dong that again soon.

It might not be considered the most interesting of gifts but to my mum and my grandmas I gave them each a tea towel (among other things!). I did design the tea towel I might add and I sewed up the edges. Not necessarily well but I get points for effort right?

If you would like one of these 2015 calendar tea-towels they are available here:

http://www.printmepretty.co.uk/1522/Love-Laughter-and-Happiness-2015-tea-towel

For Christmas day I went over to my parents and had a huge Christmas dinner, with homemade Nutella cheesecake for afters. You can keep your Christmas pud, really not a fan. There were crackers pulled of course. Anybody else getting pretty disenchanted with crackers? I mean a shoehorn? Really?! So that’s why this time I put my own prizes in. Before Christmas I bought a few little toys, keying’s, little chocolates, things like that and by snipping the ribbon off one end of each cracker was able to slot them in. Far more fun than nail clippers and plastic paperclips that’s for sure. I’ve already got some make-your-own-cracker packs ready to use for next year.

Does anybody else get their cats presents for Christmas? Yeeeeah we do. I gave Tabby some catnip toys which he has been rubbing all over his face (Fell asleep still holding on to them so I’m told). I gave Elsa some toys. She loves these little hard foam balls. She chases them all over the living room almost like a little dog. And to Charlie I gave a box. What? He likes boxes ok; I even wrapped it in Christmas paper. He seems happy enough.

So it’s a new year and time to get cracking on some new designs. I’m starting off with some Valentine’s Day digis. So you’ll be seeing some tongue-in-cheek pin-up designs of the somewhat saucy nature. Its love hearts and garter belts until February 14^th here! My fabulous design team have made these lovely projects already using ‘Lucy’. Thank you ladies!

http://scrapbookscraftscards.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/valentines-day-mixed-media-canvas.html

 http://bevscraftspace.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/a-jiggery-makery-valentine.html

http://vixenvarg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/give-me-butterflies.html

Find ‘Lucy’ in my Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JiggeryMakery?ref=hdr_shop_menu

However starting tomorrow (Mon 12th), for the next week at least, you’ll be seeing something a little different. Quite different really. I have thought about starting another digi stamp range. Something very different from my pin-up designs. I only have one design so far which I’m releasing today for a limited time (She is in my etsy shop for a very reasonable price). So . . . here she is!

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/218061055/princess-limited-time-only?ref=shop_home_active_4

Er, ta da? Shes just called 'Princess' since I’m not completely sure where I’m going with this style yet. I'm really looking forward to what my design team creates using her. Keep an eye out for that starting tomorrow!

It would mean a lot to me to have your input too. Let me know if you like it, if it’s too different, , anything really would really help me out. Thank you!

Till next time!

Meet the Design Team

Hi everybody! Great news, I now have a design team of talented ladies who I’d like to introduce you to. So here they are!

“My name is Elina Pereira and I have been crafting off and on for a number of years. For the past year, I have been scrapbooking and card making for various design teams and I also have a blog where I showcase my projects. I recently have found a new passion for Mixed Media art and have been applying it to create canvases, tags, as well as, cards and layouts. I also love making Home Decor pieces and I love being able to think outside of the box, when it comes to my crafting.”

Projects by Elina

Elina’s blog: http://scrapbookscraftscards.blogspot.co.uk/

“Hi! I'm Bev.

I'm a fifty-something retired Dental Nurse (I can hear the groans!) I have been married to Keith for 35 years - yikes! Where did all that time go??? We have one son, James 28, who is quite self-sufficient & runs his own Graphic Design business & lives with his lovely partner Charlotte. We are 'grandparents' to his dog Poppy! She appears on my blog sometimes if she's been ‘helping’.

I love crafting - trying to make cards, ATC's, jewellery, stamping, painting, mixed media - a bit of everything really. Just like to experiment & enjoy crafting my days away!

I love looking around peoples blogs and entering a few challenges here & there.

I am looking forward to being on the Jiggery Makery Design Team.”

Projects by Bev

Bev’s blog: bevscraftspace.blogspot.co.uk

“Hi everyone my name is Genny and I admit to being a total craftoholic. I enjoy most types of crafting, over the years I think I must have given most things a go but I love cardmaking, painting (with acrylic and watercolour) and mixed media artwork the most. I have been crafting for over 20 years but now am lucky enough to earn my living doing what I love. I hold my hands up to be a total glitter queen and to having a slightly wacky look on life. I am also lucky enough to live in the middle of nowhere within the Snowdonia National Park and share my home with 10 cats and 1 dog. I took up crafting when I became disabled, but that just means I'm a mad crafter with wheels. It also means I'm a lot speedier round the craft shops lol. I love to share what I do and if you ever want to know anything about what I've created just ask.”

Projects by Genny

Genny’s blog: vixenvarg.blogspot.co.uk/

Make sure to check out their blogs as starting next week projects using my digi stamps will be uploaded! Exiting! Elina uploads Monday, Bev on a Wednesday and Genny on Fridays. First up its Halloween projects using my Tess the witch digi.


Thank you for coming and pop back soon.

Designing a Digital Stamp: Tess the witch

Hi everybody, are you all looking forward to Halloween? I’m looking forward to pumpkin soup myself. And pumpkin pie. Mmm pie . . . ahem, anyway today I thought I’d share with you some progress shots of how I design a digital stamp. Specifically Tess the witch, my latest and first Halloween design. I wanted to show you that the end product might be all clean lines and smiles but it doesn’t always start out that way.

To start, once I have an idea for what I want to draw I sketch out a rough skeleton (no pun intended) that looks pretty much like I stick man. This helps me work out the proportion and position of the limbs. As you can see I did not keep my first attempt, it just wasn’t working so I started over. That kind of thing happens. A lot. But you just have to keep trying.

So I drew out another ‘skeleton’. Changed some bits, like the position of the legs and her left arm. Once I’m satisfied that everything is where I want it I can start to flesh it out. Literally. I give her flesh. Curvy flesh usually.

Then after that I added in the details, such as her hair, clothes and in this case a witches hat. Shoes too, mustn't forget those. This is where the fun is, I get to design her outfit, her hair and her attitude really.

Then I added on the face . . . the first attempt doesn’t always work.

Yeeeeeeaaaah . . . Moving on!

Anyway I eventually got it and rubbed out and redrew certain lines until I was happy with the whole design. But it was far from over! Then I scanned her into the computer and I drew the clean crisp line work using Photoshop on top. It’s at this stage I can make any final changes. As you can see changes were made to the hat, some to her face and I decided not to give her stockings after all.

And after all that, voila! Here here she is.

Well I hoped you liked this little insight into how I create a digital stamp. I may show more of the ‘behind the scenes work’ in the future as this was pretty fun.

Oh whilst I’m here, tomorrow is the last day to apply for the design team and on Facebook I am taking suggestions for my next pin up design to raise money for children in need. So please comment there with your wonderful ideas!

Thank you and please come back soon.

Jiggery Makery Design Team Call!

Design team call!

Hi everybody! Exiting news; it’s the first ever Jiggery Makery design team call!

I am looking for an enthusiastic group of individuals to work with my digital stamps, to create projects on a weekly basis.





Who can apply?

Anybody can apply but you must be committed. Each member of the team will be required to produce a project once per week. If you feel that this will not be possible for you please do not apply, I am looking for very reliable people. Each member will need to post their projects/blog link to the Jiggery Makery Facebook page on a specific day given (decided later). Each member should have a blog to showcase their makes and to share links to the Jiggery Makery Facebook page and Etsy shop on. Members being active on social media is a must.

What skills do I need?

Colouring skills are paramount as I want my digi stamps shown off as the best they can be but as for projects they can be anything as long as my girls can be clearly seen. Projects could include cards, scrapbook pages, wall art, art journals, bunting . . . etc. There is a lot of creative freedom allowed, but all work must be of a high standard and a good quality of finish.

What about images?

Members will also be required to have crisp, clear high quality photos. Minimal amounts of filters should be used, preferably not at all to give a more professional look. Photographs should be watermarked with the maker’s details and the Jiggery Makery Facebook Page link.

What about networking?

Networking is very important; all members will be required to blog. The blogs themselves would preferably describe the making of the project in a step-by-step manner detailing the techniques used. However blog posts could also be a critique of the digi stamp (I don’t mind as long as you are being honest) or how it can be used in a unique way. Other products may be used of course in the making of the project but the digi stamp must be the main focus.

Other networking duties will include regularly liking/sharing/posting/commenting on the Jiggery Makery Facebook page, as well as promoting challenges/competitions.

Let’s recap!

So I’m looking for people:

· With A Current Blog that they are regularly posting on

· Who will network regularly on the Jiggery Makery Facebook page
· Who will promote Jiggery Makery where possible
· Who will frequently put links to both the page and the shop in their blog posts
· Who are able to work with digital stamps
· Who will create physical projects (digital crafters may still apply but traditional techniques are preferred)
· Who create projects of a high standard
· Who are able to take clear photos of projects
· Who stay on schedule
· Who are enthusiastic and committed
· Who are creative of course
· And who genuinely like working with my digital stamps

Permissions and the contract

You will grant me permission to use the image(s) of your creations in the promotion of Jiggery Makery products. The permission would include but not be limited to use in the shop, on the blog and on the Facebook page. Wherever an image is used you will be given credit as the designer.

By being accepted into the design team you agree do all that is stated above. You will be rewarded with plenty of digital stamps and a badge for your blog but you must be dedicated and proactive.

To apply

Please send an email to adelebradwell01@gmail.com with a few examples of your work and a brief paragraph about yourself. You may wish to include a link to a blog if you already have one or any other networking site you post creative projects on.

I look forward to hearing from you. Take care!


The Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/jiggerymakery

The Shop https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JiggeryMakery

Flower girl canvas in pink

Hello everybody! I wanted to share with you this little canvas wall art I have been working on. Its using some new digital stamps of mine that I designed recently and I wanted to try them out before I put them up for sale. First I designed a cute little girl’s face in a quite cartoony style, inspired a little by Disney. Then I decided instead of hair, why not have some flower blossoms? I think I have seen this idea before but cannot for the life of me think where. So I designed four different simple flowers that could be used along with her. I was going to make a card but would you believe I have no card? So, since I have an abundance of canvases I thought why not?

To start I printed out the face and lots of the flowers onto 200gms paper, which I took out of my sketch book. I used Promarkers to lay down an even base colour and then I used Prisma Colors to add shading and detail. Because I knew I was going to cut out the face I did not worry about colouring inside the lines at all, which is great as you need to work quickly with Promarkers. I’d say the rule of thumb is if the colour looks streaky or blotchy when wet then that is how it will dry. My advice is to really saturate the paper with the colour until it is even and have a piece of scrap paper underneath.

For the main skin colour I used ‘Oatmeal’ and to add a little shading whilst the first colour was still wet I added in some ‘soft peach’ under the chin and above the eyes. Then once the Promarkers had dried I used a ‘beige’ Prismacolor around the outside of the face to add depth and shadow as well as on the neck. In some of the darker areas I blended a touch of ‘burnt ochre’ with the ‘beige’ for a more intense shadow.  I also used the same brown to colour the eyebrows. As for the lips I used ‘deco peach’ for the main colour and ‘deco pink’ for the shading. I used the peach on other areas of the face to add dimension such as above the eyes.

On the eyes themselves I used a 'duck egg' promarker first then coloured pencils. ‘Light green’ on the lightest area, a blend of ‘light aqua’ and ‘electric blue’ for the main colour and ‘violet blue’ to indicate a shadow caused by the upper lid. To add detail I used the three lighter pencils to add little dashes on the iris coming out from the centre of the eye.

I used pretty much the same technique on the flowers. I used ’pale pink’, ‘baby pink’, ‘salmon pink’ and ‘pink carnation’ Promarkers for the base colour of the flowers,  again not bothering  to colour inside the lines since I was cutting them all out. Once the first layer of colour was dry I used the same pens but on different flowers for the centres. I could have done yellow centres but I wanted to stick primarily to a pallet of lovely muted pinks. Then, as I had with the face I added in detail with Prisma Colors in slightly darker shades around the edge of the petals.

Then began the cutting. Lots of cutting. But I needed lots of flowers since I was going to use a 20 by 20cm canvas. If I had been making a card I would have made one smaller than that with less space around the face for flowers.

After I had laid the face and all the flowers on the canvas to make sure I had enough I was able to paint it. I tried various techniques from stippling various shades of pink, streaking the paint but it all looked too much, so in the end I went with a simple light pink all over. I got this by mixing ‘titanium white’, ‘brilliant red’ and ‘rose madder’ acrylic paint.

Once the paint was dry (I used a hair dryer because I’m impatient) I could start piecing it all together. I stuck the face down using double-sided sticky tape and Uhu glue. After placing it in the desired spot and pressing down gently I flipped the canvas over onto a clean surface and pressed down from the back so that it was firmly stuck. Also if you press down too hard from the front you’ll get a saggy canvas and nobody wants that.

Then began the sticking down of the flowers. I started with the large flowers which I stuck down with just the Uhu glue, which is pretty good. It doesn’t cause the paper to wrinkle slightly like other glues can. It’s also pretty good value for money. Then I used some 3mm foam tape from Woodware to stick down the medium-sized flowers to add depth to the piece. For the two types of smaller flowers I used a mix of 3D sticky dots and the foam tape to create different levels of depth. For some of the smallest blossoms I used 2 pieces of the foam tape on top of one another to raise them up even further. I would not recommend the sticky dots, at least not for this project. If I had had some thinner foam tape I would have used that.

Finally I added some small ivory coloured beads to give it that little bit of pop and voila! A pretty pink flower girl.

I hope all that made sense and thank you for getting to the end. I plan on doing more project blogs like this in the future. Now if you will excuse me, I have a date with the vacuum-cleaner *sigh* I hate this part.

An introduction

Hello there, this is my first blog post so I'm not really sure what I'm doing yet so please bare with me. I suppose its best to start with an introduction, so my name is Adele and I like to design things. At the moment I'm working on a range of digital stamps inspired by Pin Up girls, but I also have a keen interest in surface pattern, particularly when it comes to fabric. I have a degree in interior design and graduated last year (and I'm still not ready for the 'real world'). I just want to draw and can easily spend 12 hours a day using photoshop.

I hope to share some of my designs and design process through this blog and what i get up to designwise. On that note, below is the first three digital stamps I created based on a nautical theme. Thats 'Paula' on the left, 'Josie' in the centre and 'Helen' on the right. I ended up giving them names firstly because the names just came to me as i was drawing them and secondly that it seemed the best way to identify between them. Nautical girl 1, 2, and 3 isn't very catchy. Besides I'd like to think my girls have a little personality.

So thats me and what I do in a nutshell and I hope I will have something a little more interesting to talk about next time. I hope you have enjoyed this brief post and thank you for reading.