Brides Keepsake…… Jewelled Lucky Horse Shoe/Heart

Please excuse the glue globs on some of the photographs, it was still wet in my eagerness to get this post written.
I don’t have a clue what to call this ….. when I had the idea I was thinking about the lucky horse shoes you give to a bride outside the church/registry office …. but heart shaped!  If that makes any sense at all?????

I saw this string of vintage decorative hearts in Home Bargains for £2.99 and knew immediately what I wanted to do with them, and as there were four hearts altogether, it was a no brainer, as you just can’t even buy one wooden heart of such quality from craft establishments for that price!

I decided to use one of the small hearts, which measured approximately 5.5ins x 5ins for this project and then raided my cupboards for a whole variety of embellishments including paper flowers, cabochons that I had been sent from WholePort, fabric and crocheted flowers, plus flat backed gems and flowers and pearls …. you name it, I used it  as my desk proves!

Like my jewelled mirrors I built  up the design, adding gems to the fabric flowers and filling all the gaps with small pearl beads.

I think it is all the fiddle fart, very sticky building up and filling gaps are what makes all the difference when looking at the finished heart. I used a narrow cream ribbon to hold it by, threading it through the existing hole at the top, with the bottom hole being easily covered up by all the embellishments.

I now really want to make a couple of horseshoes for summer weddings, which I think could go down a storm at work.  Marc gave me one when I last went to see him ….. now if only I could find it amongst all my bits and pieces …. I can see it in my minds eye, I just cannot remember where I squirrelled it safely away,  DOH!!

Memory Box–Madeleine Bird Die

This card measures 4.75ins x 4.75ins and is made using a hand cut Kraft card blank.
I love birds on cards, they are so versatile for so many themes and decided to treat myself to this Memory Box Madeleine Bird die No. 98424 (£5.99).

I’ve kept everything very less is more, using old music paper for the background.  Although it doesn’t show on the photo, I have mounted the birds and their wings on self adhesive foam pads for extra dimension. A bit of faux stitching and a flat gem eye completes the effect.

I can see me using this die over and over again, I want to try it using felt and delicate patterned fabrics when I have got a little more time to fiddle fart …. I am not the best or most patient of sewers, but I am thinking brooches …. ???