FREEBIES free images

EPHEMERA

2012-01-03T19:45:00.000Z

Handwritten notes inside the fly leaf of 'The China Collector's Pocket Companion' 1874

Book plate, 1925

MUSIC - BEETHOVEN SYMPHONIES

2012-01-03T19:39:00.001Z

Hardback, case-bound, this was very wide when opened, so I think is a very early one. As per usual, a lot of these early books don't have dates in, so I can only estimate mid 19th century.

2012 CALENDARS

2011-12-30T13:36:00.001Z

Fancy making your own? Go straight to Free Printables - they've got every sort and size you could think of, including Islamic, Jewish, bold print, pocket sized... and all for free!

Perfect to incorporate into your own art, whether a monthly screensaver or an actual calendar page!

THE GIRLS' MERRY BOOK

2011-12-19T19:55:00.001Z

Front cover

Spine

Back cover

These are some images from The Girl's Merry Book, a girls' annual published circa 1935.

LINE DRAWINGS - here are some of the best

Published as a large format hardback book by The Capella Press of Southampton, UK, this has some of the stiffest, thickest pages I've ever come across - each page is more like cardboard! Very unfortunate that the paper is very acidic as the pages have yellowed badly and are brittle.

4 COLOUR PLATES

So charming!

VICTORIAN ADVERTISEMENTS

2011-11-15T21:23:00.001Z

A folio of A3 advertisements, all individual engravings, dated 1879-1880.

Unfortunately there is some water damage - but it makes for great texture!

In png format, to retain the oval shape

More to follow shortly!

MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC

2011-10-19T15:45:00.001+01:00

Such an evocative song...

First page

... and chorus

Look at the director - MICHAEL WINNER, who directed the Death Wish series with Charles Bronson

KNIT ONE, PURL ANOTHER ONE - 70s KNITTING PATTERNS

2011-10-18T19:21:00.000+01:00

What a simper! Couldn't you just smack her one!

This girl's obviously been bribed to stand still...

Stuffed? Or edible...?

And finishing with a pattern that seems very familiar - my school cardi was definitely something very similar to this. (I HATED it!)

KNIT ONE, PURL ONE - 70s KNITTING PATTERNS

2011-10-17T11:30:00.000+01:00

1970s British children's knitting patterns - in a pretty bad state, but could be useful for backgrounds and 'already vintaged' ATCs etc.

This boy is considering calling Child Protection Services

Starsky and Hutch, anyone?

All at 300dpi, so the full sized images can be played around with. As always, right click for the full size image and left click to save to your My Pictures folder.

Have fun!

VICTORIAN SCROLLS - LABELS

2011-09-27T22:13:00.000+01:00

Rather nice Victorian scrolls from an old book I found. I have cleaned out the centre in the lower one - this would make a nice blog header etc.

COOKERY LABELS

2011-09-27T22:10:00.000+01:00

Two chapter headers from a 1950s cookery book - these would make fun labels for your own recipe projects, a cookery scrapbook etc. I think the chef looks very French - the triped trousers, the cloche and those tiny little feet!

FREEBIE DESKTOP SCREEN SAVER & TUTORIAL

2011-07-08T23:07:00.002+01:00

The screensaver I've designed - icons wherever you want them to go
(copyright Susie Jefferson)

This week, I decided to get my desktop organised.

I've been reading a book from the library on how to care for your computer, cosset it, generally keep it happy - and discovered to my horror that my beloved Active Desktop Screensaver (which I've had for years) is Not A Good Idea!

My old desktop screensaver - Active Desktop Calendar to
the right, and all my icons on the left in orderly rows

These use up loads of memory, and if your computer is temperamental and on the old side (yes, to both) then you really shouldn't have anything active on your desktop. No fancy stuff apart from icons. Well, I don't know about you - but I find the screensavers that come with my computer programme (Windows XP) are beyond boring!

Screensaver at 1680 x 1050 resolution
Click here for the direct download

Screensaver at 1800 x 1050 resolution
Click here for the direct download

So I decided to make my own desktop calendar page for August, and here it is if you'd like to download it too. Left-click to open the folder at full size then right-click to save to your computer OR use the direct download links under the pictures.

TUTORIAL

Here's how to install your own screensaver - and also put your icons where you want them!

NOW ARRANGE YOUR DESKTOP ICONS WHERE YOU WANT THEM:

It's even easier than it looks! And if you want all your icons ordered into a grid or auto arranged - just tick the boxes again.Hope you like the screensaver and find it and the tutorial useful.

To enter your own notes and dates the easy way, either use your favourite graphics programme - or go to my Computery page and have a look at all the free programmes out there. Some you don't even need to download! And here's how to add a text layer:

FREEBIE - UNCLE SAM BLINKIE FOR YOU!

2011-07-01T18:30:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone! In celebration of Independence Day in the States, I've made an Uncle Sam blinkie! Do feel free to grab this if you'd like to put it on your own blog.

TAKE THIS CODE

Just copy& paste the code into an html widget right into your sidebar! I hope you have fun with it.

MORE WEB TOYS TO PLAY WITH

2011-06-21T23:53:00.000+01:00

ACME Heart Maker

I found some more web toys for you to play with:

ACME's LoveHeart maker (remember those sweets? We can still get them in the UK! Sherbet-ish and with a lovely crunch... ) and also a fun Windows Error Message maker from Atom Smasher.

Here's the Error Message Generator

and here's the result...

I can see a lot of potential here... spoof cards, scrapbook pages...

Have fun!

ACME LABEL MAKER

2011-06-21T14:54:00.002+01:00

The Acme Label Maker is freeware (in other words, totally free to use) and great for that 'Dymo label' effect.

It's a great web toy for creating labels - right on screen, nothing to download. Perfect for journalling, scrapbooking, cards, blog headers and backgrounds... virtually anything you can think of! And, being rectangular, actually easy to cut out with scissors, lol (although I think I'd be using a paper cutter or guillotine... I can't cut a straight line to save my life!)

Once you've created your text, left-click on it to bring it up full size and then right-click to Save Image As to your computer.

Here's my finished result. Rather smart, huh?

Good fun, give the Acme Label Maker a try!

CLOTH PAPER SCISSORS FREE E-BOOK: NEEDLE FELTING

2011-04-29T09:32:00.000+01:00

I'm not a felter myself (bad wrists) but I so admire those who are.

For anyone who hasn't had a go, or would like to learn more, those nice people at Cloth Paper Scissors are offering a FREE e-book to download.

Go and give it a try... you know you want to!

APOTHECARY & HERB LABELS

2011-04-24T12:32:00.000+01:00

Apothecary Labels

Found these fantastic labels in my stash, and can't remember if I put these up for you before - but if I have, they won't have been edited for you as I have this time!

jpg image - white background

png image - transparent background

You'll notice there's a curl and a shadow - which is great for adding realism to scrapbook pages etc. All images are full sized at high resolution, so perfect for printing off for your projects.

jpg image - white background

png image - transparent background

You'll find each individual label as a jpg and as a png (transparent background). As always, free for personal use and to add to items for sale - but not for including in collage collections for sale or as stamp images etc.

jpg - white background

png - transparent background

Cut out to stick onto jars & boxes; use your favourite digital programme to add lettering or else use rubber stamps.

jpg - white background

png - transparent background

Do let me know what you think of these - good idea or not? Suggestions for improvement?

jpg - white background

png - transparent background

Should I go through and edit some older entries (and if so, any in particular?)

jpg - white background

png - transparent background

Are these sizes good for you? I also haven't cleaned up the actual images beyond the sizing, and making the png option - do you feel they need further work?

jpg - white background

png - transparent background

Finally, the fennel label with the lettering removed so you have a plain label.

As you've gathered... comments gratefully received as to whether you want edited images or not.

CRAFT STAMPER MAGAZINE - FREE DOWNLOAD!

2011-04-03T11:35:00.000+01:00

I'm really excited! Craft Stamper has just released their first e-zine featuring the very best projects of 2010!

So if you missed an issue (or are outside the UK and haven't been able to get your hands on a copy), here you are: the best of the best - and best of all, it's a free download! So click on the link, download away - and don't forget to tell all your friends.

Enjoy!

BLINKIE - LIVE THE LIFE YOU LOVE!

2011-03-27T13:22:00.002+01:00

Here's a new blinkie I made for you all - now Spring has finally sprung, I felt we all needed something light, bright and positive!

<a href="http://1stfloorflatblogology.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu313/1stFloorFlatComputery/930462a1.gif"/></a>

Just copy all the code and paste it into an html widget right into your sidebar!

FREEBIE QP OR FRAME

2011-02-15T23:09:00.000Z

Adorable child pic is Daizy by M on DeviantArt

I've done a frame image for you this week - this could be used as a picture or even a blog header (just add your own text and click to resize).
It would also work as a Valentine image, which was my original idea, but I couldn't find an image I liked.

Left click to bring up to full size, and right-click to save to your computer. Add your photograph in a layer below this then merge. This is a png, so the central white portion is actually transparent. If this doesn't download correctly, use this image code instead:

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu313/1stFloorFlatComputery/67d25be6.png

Here's an excellent video tutorial by Shabby Blogs showing how to layer and add text:

People often ask me if I use a lot of layers in my work. The answer is 'yes' and here is this piece, if you are interested:

FREE FOAM TEXTURES

2011-01-25T21:08:00.000Z

Took these myself! I'd love a comment as to whether you like them or not (ie: if they are any use as textures in your artwork).

Texture copyright Susie Jefferson

These are all bubblebath! Could you tell?

OUT & ABOUT WITH MY CAMERA

2011-01-25T21:01:00.000Z

Some new freebies for you, from my personal collection.

Photo copyright Susie Jefferson
This used to be the Red Pump Garage - and is now a very chichi interior design shop in Great Missenden, UK

Photo copyright Susie Jefferson
The sign on the door says the garage stopped selling petrol when it went up to £1 per gallon... it's now £1.40 per litre (You'll have to work it out yourself - it SOUNDS expensive!)

Photo copyright Susie Jefferson
Outside Earls Court tube station, London Doesn't the police box look exactly like the one used in Dr Who! (Victorian original)

Photo copyright Susie Jefferson
Closeup, slightly different view of that Tardis

As always, left-click to open to the full sized image, and right-click to copy to your computer. Personal use only (that means no collage collections of any type, no brushes, no rubber stamps etc). If in doubt, please email me.

FREE BACKGROUND PAPERS

2010-11-12T15:32:00.000Z

Some digital backgrounds for you - personal use only. Click on the links to bring up the full size, then right-click to copy.

GraffitMath-Grunge

GraffitMath

These are variations on a theme, and were going to be blog backgrounds then I changed my mind (as you do...) but might be just the job for a card or whatever.

If you fancy a freebie blog background, header, button or blinkie click my Blogology button (under the header).

STAMPINGTON - FREEBIE CHRISTMAS IMAGES

2010-11-10T12:33:00.000Z

Stampington have released some more vintage freebies: here is the link so you can download your own (there are 3 altogether).

Rather nice, I thought.

STAMPINGTON - FREE FRENCH MUSIC

2010-09-29T12:45:00.000+01:00

French sheet music - copyright Stampington magazine.

Stamptington have just released these free downloads - 4 sheets of French sheet music. Go here to collect them - left-click to open the image, then left-click again to bring up to the full size, and right-click to copy to your computer.

Enjoy!

LES ROIS DE FRANCE

2010-08-22T10:35:00.000+01:00

Stampington have given us another wonderful freebie - the Kings of France!

Here's Charlemagne - and go here to collect the rest.

FABULOUS APOTHECARY LABELS

2010-07-26T11:03:00.000+01:00

RUN, don't walk - to JustSomethingIMade to pick up these wonderful apothecary labels!

Photo copyright Cathe Holden at JustSomethingIMade

Not only can you see them applied to bottles to prettify your bathroom - but you can also see a tutorial on how to apply them to your bath towels!

Photo copyright Cathe Holden at JustSomethingIMade

Very spiffy indeed!

Love them - thanks so much Cathe.

ANYONE FOR TENNIS? FREEBIE STAMPINGTON DOWNLOAD

2010-06-09T16:20:00.000+01:00

It's nearly time for Wimbledon! So what great timing to see Stampington have a new freebie download of vintage tennis players.

Here's the link to download the full set.

Game, set and match to Stampington!

FREEBIE DIGITAL HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARD

2010-05-29T00:58:00.000+01:00

Here is a digital birthday card for you.

Free for PU and S4H: just left-click to bring up to full size, right-click to copy to your computer.

I had fun making this, so I hope you'll have fun using it!

FREEBIE WORD ART - HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2010-05-15T10:47:00.000+01:00

May I present my very first attempts EVER at Word Art.

Free for PU and S4H, so download away! These are png files, 300dpi so plenty large for conventional scrapbooking plus digital. Left-click to ge the full sized image, right-click to save to your computer.

Here's another one:

and with a grungy frame (see my pic above):

Layer these in your graphics programme with any coloured or patterned background (place the colour layer above the Word Art layer) then Group With Previous to merge the images.

Do leave me a comment to let me know what you think: if you like them, I'll make more.

SHEET MUSIC

2010-05-11T18:12:00.000+01:00

OLD ADVERTS

2010-05-11T17:58:00.001+01:00

Some old adverts (my own collection):

SOME EPHEMERA

2010-05-11T17:53:00.001+01:00

Ephemera:

Sources - Creative Commons, copyright-free

A QUEUE - WWII RATIONING

2010-05-11T17:49:00.000+01:00

From an old magazine article I've saved for years, showing rationing in Britain during WWII.

Which proves us Brits are a nation of queuers.

THEATRELAND

2010-05-11T17:43:00.000+01:00

From an old theatre magazine in my collection, circa 1932:

These are page headers - and fabulous Art Deco images.

CHILDREN IN FANCY DRESS

2010-05-11T17:39:00.000+01:00

From The Gentlewoman, 1921

From my private collection... you get the feeling none of these outfits were home-made!

As always, left-click for the full size, then right-click to copy. These are completely unretouched.

MORE STAMPINGTON FREEBIES

2010-05-02T15:11:00.000+01:00

Stampington have released two more freebie images for you to enjoy.

These are big files, so as usual left-click to bring up the full image and then right-click to copy to your computer. Or click this link to download them.

ENJOY!

HOW EVERY WISE CHILD SHOULD LIVE - PRAYER & DIGITAL PIECE

2010-04-30T18:46:00.002+01:00

I thought this little piece I saved from an old magazine was rather fun.

Sweet illustration too! This may take a while to load - it's full size at 300dpi.

This gave me the inspiration to have a go at a digital piece - in pink, as it's Pink Saturday. This picture is full sized (so just left-click to open at full size, then right-click to copy):

... and here it is again, as a button (sized to go in a sidebar if anyone would like it - just copy and paste the code into an html box):

<center><a href="http://1stfloorflat.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="1stFloorFlat" src="http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu313/1stFloorFlatComputery/ff746ece.jpg"/></center></a>

WISHING YOU...

2010-04-23T17:41:00.000+01:00

Here's a bit of digital art for you, if you'd like to bling up your blogs a little:

I hope you enjoy them.

LE LIVRE ROUGE - MORE ILLUSTRATIONS

2010-04-23T17:33:00.000+01:00

More from Le Livre Rouge (further below):

... and some of the sweetest mice I've ever seen!

TRISH'S NEW BLOG - GREAT RESOURCE

2010-04-21T11:42:00.000+01:00

Here is the link for Trish Bee's new blog The Techniques Zone - Printable Freebies page.

Definitely bookmark this one!

Trish has made this blog a wonderful resource, so I have put the link onto the Techniques page, my home page and the BladeRubber blog as well!

I make no excuse...

LE LIVRE ROUGE

2010-04-12T18:38:00.000+01:00

Here's a load of goodies from Le Livre Rouge, a sweet little foreign language book for schoolchildren, written by E Magee, Officier d'Academie, Edgbaston High School for Girls, Birmingham (UK) and published by Blackie & Son circa late 1920s - early 1930s, judging by the clothing style.

As always, have fun with these!

STAMPINGTON - FREE VINTAGE POSTCARDS

2010-02-25T21:32:00.000Z

Stampington have just released some more freebies!

Click to bring up to full size, Save As to your computer.

Nice, huh?

STAMPINGTON - FLOWER POSTCARD FREEBIES

2010-01-13T11:17:00.000Z

Stampington have released a set of three French flower postcards for free download.

Click on the link, then the image - and again to get the full size, then right-click to copy to your computer. A rather nice little collection, this - I love the poppy!

ADDRESS BOOK - FREEBIE ADDRESS PAGES DOWNLOAD

2009-12-27T15:21:00.000Z

I just bought a copy of Simply Handmade - a new magazine I just noticed - and reading through the Jan/Feb 2010 issue, I found a great idea for an address book. Make your own, using the Bind-it-all to bind the pages together.

What we need for any address book are the inner pages - and here they are for you print off at home!

Photographs copyright Simply Handmade

Here's the original post about the address book, from the Simply Handmade blog - and here's the free download for the inside pages.

Make this in any size you like! I'd advise you print out on a more expensive, higher quality printer paper (100gsm if possible) or even a thin cardstock.

MORE FREEBIES FROM STAMPINGTON

2009-12-09T20:34:00.000Z

Stampington has just released two more freebie downloads, a Marie Antoinette and a sweet Victorian miss.

To download them both go here.

FREE PHOTO EDITING PROGRAMME

2009-12-01T08:23:00.002Z

I'm putting this on Computery as well so EVERYONE can find this link!

Splashup is a free photo editing programme that works right on your website!

No need to download, and having had a little playaround, it seems a lot easier than Gimp (also free, which is more equivalent to Photoshop - and very hard to use if you are a newbie).

It will do everything the simpler graphics programmes can do, including resizing, adding layers, effects etc. Well worth a look, and just the job for anyone teetering on the bring of needing a graphics programme but dithering as to which one to buy.

You don't even need to register if you are working with images from your computer - although, if you do, you can save work in progress, files etc - and works with any browser. If you are registered, you can also get straight into your Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa, Smug Mug and Facebook account.

How fabulous!

CHRSTMASSY THANK-YOU BUTTON

2009-11-19T15:36:00.001Z

Here's a little button I made which you might like to use on your blogs.

Click to bring up the full-sized image, then follow these instructions.

To install, just right-click to copy to your computer and then upload by clicking on Layout > Add a Gadget > Add a Picture, then browse for it and click to upload.

Enjoy!

THREE OLD LADIES & AN ALMANAC

2009-11-18T23:28:00.000Z

Welsh National dress at the turn of the century. This photo was reprinted in an old newspaper, so I cut it out by hand to remove the type (this is before I got the hang of Photoshop).

1st page and cover

MEDIAEVAL PLAYING CARDS

2009-11-13T19:35:00.002Z

These are oldies but goodies - Mediaeval playing card images - I'm thinking maybe Italian...

These were on an old piece of newsprint, stashed away - hence the creases. Sorry!

HERALDIC & MASONIC

2009-11-13T19:29:00.000Z

These are quite interesting - heraldic, certainly. Masonic? Not sure...

PORCELAINE MARKS

2009-11-05T12:34:00.000Z

Want to know if your precious china is the Real Thing?

Check it out here!

VERY SCARY HALLOWEEN

2009-10-29T19:51:00.002Z

Another fabulous image by Kitsune-Insomnia!

Brace yourselves...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2009-10-28T16:35:00.002Z

Copyright Kitsune-insomnia

NOTE:
I have just saved this picture to my own Photobucket account and re-uploaded it so that you can see it, as this picture has proved so popular it crashed Kitsune's site. There is now a blank instead of a picture, as all the downloads have exceeded her bandwidth quota! (I have already had to open a Pro account, so that isn't a problem for me).

If you go to a Photobucket site and want to save anything, please don't use the Direct Link code - you're using someone else's bandwidth.

Use the Image code, or copy to your own Photobucket site (where your own bandwidth will be used) or download it - but don't forget to acknowledge whose copyright it is, and always try provide a link where possible.

STAMPINGTON - FREEBIE LABELS

2009-10-28T09:11:00.003Z

Those nice people at Stampington have released more freebies - labels this time.

Here is the link.

They are nice and big, so suitable for printing without any loss of detail.

HALLOWEEN BACKGROUNDS

2009-10-13T21:41:00.006+01:00

Here are some backgrounds for you: Fright Night and Horror Show. Nice and scary!

I've put these onto Blog-ology.

The codes are below each background so that you can just copy&paste into an HTML box. Don't worry - the instructions are there as well!

FRIGHT NIGHT

HORROR SHOW

The matching headers can be found on Extras (along with instructions on how to install).

Enjoy!

HALLOWEEN IMAGES

2009-10-12T22:50:00.000+01:00

Here are some great goodies: all Creative Commons pix, so are free for you to use.

THE BEST WAY - MORE PAGES

2009-10-07T17:29:00.005+01:00

Here are more pages from The Best Way, my adored and very decrepit book on household hints etc. I am hurrying to post as much as I can - the paper is literally flaking away on the scanner!

Copyright-free image from Art-e-zine

For more pages, go here and here.

Brittle isn't the word... still, it was cheaply made for the poor end of the market at the time (working class, servants, make-do-and-mend gentility) and the paper is so acidic it's a dark tea colour.

So here you are, 300dpi files (slow to load) and totally unretouched.

Have fun - I just ask that you don't put these in CD collections or collage sheets for sale.

Other than that, knock yourselves out.

CALENDARS - FREE, PRINTABLE, EDITABLE

2009-09-30T18:00:00.001+01:00

Here's the most wonderful FREE link for printable 2010 calendars!

Photo copyright serif.co.uk

You can download as a Word doc (which means you can type in your own entries, then print it off) or as a downloadable PDF. There is also a wide choice of formats and layouts, including a wallet size.

And you can even print off the rest of 2009 - all ready for planning the party season.

I'll be working out which size would fit inside a Filofax-style organiser - it'll be so nice to type the entries (not only will they fit, I'll be able to read them too!)

NEWS SNIPPET, 1910

2009-09-28T17:55:00.001+01:00

Reprinted in the Brentford Informer, reporting on a Court appearance in 1910.

Don't you just love the stilted writing! I can just imagine the scene.

JUNGLE TALES - CHILDREN'S BOOK

2009-09-28T17:07:00.002+01:00

Children's book 1932

A Little Book of Jungle Tales - unfortunately, some enterprising infant coloured in the title with pencil.

These were the best of the illustrations. Regrettably, the book is falling to pieces!

VICTORIAN GIRL

2009-09-28T16:55:00.002+01:00

Victorian trading card (with a very boring advert for ovens on the back).

PRESCRIPTION LABELS

2009-09-28T16:52:00.001+01:00

Prescription labels, circa 1930.

These were the days olive oil was available on prescription! Considered to be useful only as ear drops (warmed, and applied one drop at a time) for chronic earache! No-one in the UK even knew you could use it for cooking.

NEW STAMPINGTON FREEBIES

2009-09-09T16:20:00.001+01:00

Those nice people at Stampington have released some more freebies: the covers of three issues of School Arts magazine, which look to be 1920s-1930s vintage.

These are full sized images, so go and have fun with them.

ODDITIES: THE WORKING MAN

2009-08-03T07:42:00.012+01:00

Today's offering: two oddities... the Working Man in uniform.

A postal worker stuck with minding the baby for the day, and a radiographer in WWII (the early days of X-rays).

Both pix are Creative Commons licences, so up for grabs to use freely.

I do wonder about the "ears" on the radiographer's helmet....

Enjoy!

Addendum: Jennifer at The Rusty Tiara has done a great pic with the postman, go look!

STAMPINGTON FREEBIES

2009-07-15T16:35:00.007+01:00

Those lovely people at Stampington have put up another freebie for you: 16 whole pages of an old 1876 magazine called The Dayspring.

Very sentimental, a little religous in places, and a real window into times gone by.

Two good full-page engraved illustrations (cover and one of puppies and a tortoise) plus poems etc.

Very interesting indeed, and perfect for your altered arts!

AUTOGRAPH BOOK

2009-07-06T20:35:00.018+01:00

I found this adorable little autograph book (5in x 4in) on my travels - obviously owned by a very elderly lady, judging by the wobbly writing.

And who also had a strong religious conviction.

You can tell that she wrote with a dip pen, rather than a fountain pen.

These date from 1908, are written in pen&ink in a lovely (if wavering) script, so perfect for your altered art projects. Also some newspaper cuttings and a charming little watercolour.

As always, unretouched jpgs, very high resolution, so knock yourselves out! Click on them for the full-sized view, and allow some time for them to load.

Don't forget to right-click to save to your My Pictures folders.

All of these are high resolution images, so click for a full size image then right-click to copy to your own computer.

I hope you enjoy them. I'm thinking of With Sympathy cards etc.

DELICIOUS FOOD FOR INDIA - COOKERY BOOK

2009-06-26T15:22:00.022+01:00

Written by Mrs Marie Edwards, an Old India Hand (as they used to be called).

Copyright Quettabalochistan

The ladies of the old British Raj were a formidable bunch, very resourceful, expected to handle a large household including servants, in a totally foreign country with different climate, language and customs - yet still play Gracious Hostess, entertain and feed guests from two to a hundred at virtually a moment's notice.

This was the time of Somerset Maughan and Noel Coward, tea dresses, Pimms and white linen tablecloths on the lawn for picnics...

Take particular note of the remarks at the top of each menu section - I would have loved to meet Mrs Edwards in real life: she sounds such a character (pretty formidable, I'd say...).

You'll note that in this period of our history, the British Class system was alive and well (still is, unfortunately, but not as bad as it used to be) and views were definitely not PC!

I've had this cookbook a while; got it at a car boot sale. Published in 1933, it hasn't been treated kindly: loose pages and a hardcover in Hunting Pink (ie: red).

As you can see, the colour has run due to some water damage.Although in my view, it enhances the period feel.

I've scanned entire pages as you may want to print this off to make an actual book, or add pages into a loose-leaf recipe book etc. The jpgs are at 200dpi, large files, and unretouched - so do all your cropping, retouching, enhancing in one go - THEN save again. This way you won't lose any detail.

For those of you unused to playing around with your images: jpgs are lossy formula (each time you save, you lose a little definition, eg: a photocopy of a photocopy).

So if you do all of your editing in one hit, rather than saving after each process, you won't lose detail. Unfortunately, Blogger wouldn't accept me loading these as gifs: the files were too large.

Anyone actually trying these recipes? I'd love to hear how they turn out!

Have fun!

WARNE'S HAPPY BOOK FOR BOYS

2009-06-25T19:21:00.013+01:00

No date on this, but I would think it was published probably late '30s/'40s.

Cover

Frontispiece

This one was awarded as a School Prize to Master Dennis Hodges for Good Progress and Conduct.

(Master was the correct address back then for Young Gentlemen of Quality, and he would have been at Junior school, so probably under the age of 11.)

The only colour plate

This book contains stories which are very gung-ho, very stiff-upper-lip: telling tales of derring do at Public School (Americans would call this "private school").

This is when cricket was king, Games was compulsory (team spirit and all that) and One Did the Right Thing at all times.

I love the text under the sketches - hilarious!

Mind you, I've felt like doing exactly this to a lot of my artwork...

I hope you've noticed the prize money (below) in Guineas (1 Guinea = £1 and 1 shilling - in Proper Money, before we went decimal).

Back cover decal

Usual copyright rules apply - go and have fun!

MAPS

2009-06-13T10:32:00.005+01:00

Do you love old maps? I do!

Especially those ones with "Here be dragons" and weird fishes and little sailing ships drawn in the seas.

So here is the greatest link EVER: MAPSORAMA

Totally copyright-free - you can do what you like with those maps (I emailed to check before putting this link up).

Go on, knock yourselves out!

STAMPINGTON - FREEBIE BACKGROUNDS

2009-06-10T11:38:00.003+01:00

Those lovely people at Stampington have just released a set of 5 freebie vintage wallpapers for you to download and play with!

Just right-click to Save Image As onto your own computer. I'm thinking these are perfect for layering vintage cards - and ATCs of course!

TEXT

2009-06-09T10:21:00.014+01:00

Today's offering is text-based: several cabinet card backs, the frontispiece of an old book and people listed on the back of an old photograph.

Lovely script writing, great fonts, useful frames...

At high res, big files, hack 'em up, copy portions - do what you like with them for personal use or art for sale! (exceptions are in the copyright rules are in the sidebar).

It's amazing how anything written in fountain pen ink or pencil doesn't fade...

Have fun! I'd love to see what you make with any of the images on my Freebies page.

HERE KITTY, KITTY

2009-06-08T19:48:00.008+01:00

Here's a load of genuine postage stamps for cat lovers!

I know you were feeling left out....

As always, allow time for the page to load, right-click to copy to your hard drive, and have fun!

STAMPINGTON FREEBIES

2009-05-13T14:24:00.005+01:00

Stampington have just released these items for download: all perfect for digital scrapbooking or backgrounds. And they're free!

Vintage French Lace - 4 different designs

Vintage French document

Aren't they gorgeous (and just a little decadent)!

ENGLISH COUNTIES PLAYING CARDS

2009-05-03T21:02:00.010+01:00

This set was made sometime during the 1940s, so post-WW2, and is based on Old Maid, except it used the counties and towns of England.

I'm pretty sure I've scanned the entire set, so you could even print it out and play!

These scans are actual size (as many cards as I could fit onto the scanner) and 300dpi resolution, unretouched, so you can crop and edit to your heart's content!

ADDENDUM - I don't have the rules for this game. Sorry (thought I had...)

I think they make great backgrounds!

THE WHITE RABBIT & DOG WITH FLUTE

2009-05-03T20:43:00.003+01:00

Don't you just love the White Rabbit? Isn't he your favourite?

Well, here he is - the original Tenniel illustrations were the best!

And here't the flute-playing dog from the nursery rhyme Old Mother Hubbard. A superb engraved image.

OLD SOHO

2009-05-03T20:28:00.007+01:00

Photo copyright Susie Jefferson
Free for personal use only - but not for collage collections which are sold as sheets or CDs.

Here's a street scene in old Soho, in the centre of London (just around the corner from Raymond's Revue Bar).

You won't be seeing scenes like this much longer - they're cleaning up Soho so all the strip joints will be disappearing - along with much of the character.

At the top of the alleyway (where you see the lamp post) is Berwick Street - tradionally one of the oldest fruit & veg markets, now a haven of costume jewellery and fabric shops.

VINTAGE PETER PAN PLAYING CARDS

2009-04-27T18:49:00.006+01:00

These vintage Peter Pan playing cards are late Victorian/early Edwardian, and are a part set I found in the same little Richmond antique & bric-a-brac shop.

These would have been used to play Happy Families, in sets of 4. What I find particularly interesting is the original artist visualised the book so differently from Disney... but of course, he would have seen the original Barrie play.

As always, left-click for the full size picture, then right-click to Save As into your My Pictures folder. Do whatever you like with them (including items for sale) as long as you don't use them for commercial collage sheets or CD collections.

Aren't they good fun!

GOOD DOG!

2009-04-26T23:43:00.005+01:00

Do you love dogs? Here's a whole sheet of genuine postage stamps for you to print out and use in your artwork.

Aren't they adorable!

As always, click on the pic to get it at full size (allow time for it to upload, it's a large file) then right-click and Save Image As to your own My Pictures folder.

MRS BEETON'S COOKBOOK

2009-04-24T21:49:00.004+01:00

Two pages from the original Victorian version of Mrs Beeton's Cookbook.

I adore old recipes - not only do they make wonderful backgrounds for altered art projects, but it's amazing to read how these people managed to cope without all the modern appliances we take for granted.

ANTIQUE FRENCH PLAYING CARDS

2009-04-24T21:01:00.007+01:00

These are vintage miniature French playing cards (circa 19th century) which I bought in an antique shop in Richmond, Surrey (UK).

As always, these are huge files so click for the full-size picture, then allow time for them to load.

They were scanned at high res, so you should have plenty of scope for playing around in graphics programmes, and a decent quality of print..

Some of the cards were in better condition than others, so here you have most of the Court cards, the Jester and one of the reverse views, plus the Aces. Note the pips are a little different in style to modern-day cards.

These are scanned at actual size, so are perfect for altered books, journals and the like.

Richmond is well-known for antiques: being built beside the River Thames and just downriver from Hampton Court Palace, a lot of the courtiers lived here - now we have stars like Mick Jagger!

So the stores exist: interior design, giftware, specialist cookery - and tons of antique and bric-a-brac shops, tucked down little winding side lanes...

There are also lots of little tea/coffee shops where you can catch your breath (or an olde worlde pub if you are so inclined, some over 250 years old, and not much changed) - perfection!

THE DANCER

2009-04-14T17:23:00.005+01:00

A Victorian postcard of a dancer.

Also from my private collection.

Very elegant!

As always, allow time for the high resolution image to load up.

MORE CABINET CARDS

2009-04-14T17:07:00.005+01:00

Two cabinet cards from my private collection.

At first I thought this was a Dutch girl, but on closer examination I'd say she's from Bruges, looking at the lace head dress.

Please let me know if you can place her more exactly!

As always, left click on the image to see it full sized, then right click to copy to your My Pictures folder on your computer.

This poor little mite doesn't look as though she's having a very good time at the seaside!

HOT TODDY RECIPE & PICTURE

2009-04-13T22:17:00.006+01:00

Here's a great recipe for a hot toddy, originated by my father (who used to swear by it. He suffered badly with bronchitis.)

My friend Chris's Grandfather - a copyright-free photo which you may copy for personal use only (with Chris's permission). As always, a large high quality file so give it time to load up!

DAD'S HOT TODDY

Juice of half a lemon
1 dessertspoonful of runny honey (or more, to taste)
Generous slug of whisky or brandy or dark rum
Hot water

Place lemon juice, honey and alcohol in a glass and top up with the hot water (boiled, and allowed to cool down a little as you don't want to destroy the Vitamin C).

DISCLAIMER
This is very alcoholic, so don't drive or operate machinery, etc etc.

VICTORIANA, EDWARDIANA

2009-04-13T22:11:00.002+01:00

Here are two more charming copyright-free collage items from my own private collection: a little Victorian calling card, and a highly coloured Edwardian seaside postcard.

Click on the thumbnails for the full sized images, and right-click to copy to your hard drive. These are high quality scans, therefore large files, so will take a little time to upload. Your patience will be rewarded with quality printables!

As always, do as you like with them - but please appreciate these are for private use only, including works for sale - but not to be distrubuted in commercial CDs or collage sheets.

Enjoy!

VIVE MARIE ANTOINETTE

2009-04-02T13:50:00.005+01:00

Do you love Marie Atoinette?
The film, the gowns, the whole Rococo ambiance?

Then you might like to take a copy of this free button to add to your blog, courtesy of Joy Jones at Cupids Charm blog (who knows everything there is to know about Marie Antoinette, so do visit!) Joy would love to see Marie Antoinette appear all over the world, so feel free to copy and share.

Here's how to add the image to your sidebar:

Click on the image to bring up to full size
Right-click on the picture and Save Image As to your My Pictures folder
In your blog, go to Layouts
Click Add A Gadget and choose Picture
Browse the image from your computer
Click Save, and that's it!

CABINET CARDS

2009-03-19T08:20:00.010Z

Time for some cabinet cards!

Judging by the clothes, these would be Victorian.

Again, these are totally unretouched so you can edit to your heart's content. Left-click to open up the file, then right-click to copy to your computer. Edit in your favourite graphics programme.

These will take some time to load as they are high resolution. If you make anything with these, I would love to see it!

NOTE: If you are new to all this, and need tips on how to edit these pix, email me and I will try to help.

Have fun!

OLD ROYAL TYPEWRITER

2009-03-17T10:52:00.002Z

My old Royal typewriter. Always a useful image to have in your collection. When we had to downsize I had to sell it - I still regret it!

THE BEST WAY (circa 1890) PART 2

2009-03-14T22:59:00.003Z

More from "The Best Way".

So many of these tips are actually still useful today!

Shabby skirts, bloodstains, removing grease, restoring black chiffon & steaming velvet

Again, totally unretouched large scans, so you have plenty of room to cut, crop and manipulate.

Drying boots, button boots, kid gloves & jewellery cleaning

This charming book is definitely one of a kind, and it's heartbreaking how the paper is deteriorating day by day: yellowed, brittle, crumbling to the touch. It was produced on the cheapest possible paper in its day, as a household tips& tricks reference book for the lower middle and working classes, most of whom were probably In Service to the great households at the time. There's an awful lot on the subject of laundry and housework!

Washing lace, cleaning cushion covers, washing an eiderdown

I feel this is a real piece of social history, and hope you are enjoying it as much as I am.

ROMANTIC FRENCH POSTCARDS

2009-03-14T22:47:00.003Z

OOOH LA LA!

Isn't it romantic! This series of French postcards really tells a story... is the gentleman proposing? Or whispering sweet nothings...

Cupid's up in the sky, watching... what IS he doing with a hatchet and a lantern? In this incarnation, he appears to be the Miner of Love.

These French postcards are high resolution jpgs which are totally unretouched.

This gives you huge files, but you will then be able to print or manipulate or do whatever you want with them, including creating work for sale. Copyright-free of course, because they are from my private collection. (However, you cannot put them into a commercial CD or collage sheet).

If you happen to use them in your artwork, I'd love to see a scan.

THE BEST WAY - BOOK circa 1890

2009-03-12T23:47:00.005Z

These images are all raw scans, totally unretouched. The paper is very brittle and yellowing, the cover has spots and stains. To me, it's part of the charm!

Click on each picture for a full-size image at a high resolution, so they will take time to load. Right-click to copy to your own hard drive.

Clothing care

Do whatever you like with these images, including producing work for sale. However, these images are for private use only, and not for sale as part of a commercial CD or collage sheet.

Tips on cleaning marble

Tips on cleaning tigerskin rugs!

Aaah, the days of the old British Raj! Tiger hunts and tiffin on the lawn with the Mem Sah'b!