Diamond Jubilee Crafts - The Great British Tea Bag!

My sister and I are wracking our brains thinking of little souvenir/token gifts she can give to some of the many people from all over the world she will meet and befriend as a Games Maker at London 2012 Olympic Games, and these came to me in a flash of inspiration.

The packets are glassine bags as used by stamp collectors (I believe), the Union Flags are from cut up paper chains that I had left over from Royal Wedding and the three charms, well I’ve had them forever. I was desperate to have them (because I love tiny things) and then thought what on earth do I do with them when I got them  … I never thought I would ever use them ….. but now I find the teabag charm is just so perfect.

I put a tiny bit of double sided tape to stick the flag on to the turned over lip of the packet, then punched a small hole through the layers, attaching the teapot and teabag together with a brad.  The teacup is held in place with an adhesive. foam pad.

I think this is an idea I can adapt for other occasions, but it’s the charms that really make it!

Chocolate Ladybird Boxes for Easter

This is what I have been stockpiling Tesco Valentine Love Bugs for, I knew I wouldn’t see them again till next year, or if I did, they would be double the price. But after checking carefully I saw that they have a "use by date" of December 2012 so I knew I could use them for Easter and a bit beyond if I had any other suitable ideas, plus I also checked that you get far more laybirds in a net for your money than you do Easter eggs!

I’ve cover two tiny domino boxes measuring 12cm x 4cm x 2.5cm deep with assorted pastel gingham paper strips from Handy Hippo.

And then added some gorgeous flowery adhesive borders which were part of a present from a new found friend Dianne in Florida. They come from Michaels, a shop I have read so much about. especially their crafty stuff. and where I dream one day of going to partake in some retail therapy.

I am thrilled with the way the boxes have turned out, but now I am not so sure if I can let them go!

A Conundrum!

Yesterday .... I received a "real" Wonka Bar in the post ..... I was sooooo thrilled! It was so carefully wrapped so it wouldn't break in the post but there was nothing in/on it to say who it was from, not even a postmark ...... I have a feeling it was from someone here ..... so can I say a mahoooosive THANK YOU and if you would like to make your self known ........ I can thank you properly xxxxx

Tim Holtz Inspired Pendant

My Tim Holtz/microscope slide quest continues!  But it’s easy to see that it’s the key that’s all wrong in this pendant. I should have used a metal key  instead of a domed sticker, agggghh, but having said that, it does look much better in real life and I will definitely wear it, in fact it’s on a chain ready to do just that.

I took my inspiration from a picture on page 74 of Tim Holtz Compendium of Curiosities.  It was this book that  started my friendship with Marc, after he left a comment in the chat box asking if he could send me a copy … the rest is history!

I loved the idea …. but though I had most of the basic materials, they are a bit of a  jumble of materials in gold, brass and silver  so I struggled to get everything to match in silver.  I also have a few Tim Holtz embellishments, but again, not quite what I wanted for this project and as a result it was all a bit of a compromise !!! But now I look more closely at the picture in Tim’s book I can see that he has used a memory capsule to accommodate the depth of the key …. while I struggled with two microscope slides (as I utter another agghhhhh!). So watch this space as I go back up to my craft room and my drawing board  and have another go!  I will not be beaten!

Easter Eggs Akimbo!

I don’t buy many Easter eggs but it is worth having a look in Tesco at the moment as they have eggs at really good prices, i.e three small Milky Bar ones for £3,  others at half price at £1.25, all “proper” brands.  The offers end on 26th February … so I am going to stock up on a few …. oh small Lindt bunnies 3 for £1 too.

My Little Compendium Of Curiosities

Remember the box that my wooden hearts came in?  Well, I couldn’t resist fiddle farting with it …… and had soooooo much fun!

The box measures 4ins x 4ins and each compartment measures 1.25ins x 1.25ins. 

I lined each one with a small scrap from my Papermania Portobello Road paper pad and then the excitement of finding tiny treasures to fill them began.

I wanted to make it as 3D as possible, so some of the bits are stuck on several layers of foam pads, like the birdcage, boat and gingerbread man.

I love the sweet jars best, followed by the fish bowl, again on foam pads so it stands proud of the home sweet home sign.

I am not sure if you can buy boxes like this on their own, because if they did I would buy them buy the crate …. as making something like this is my idea of crafting heaven!

If you know where I could get some more, without buying a whole pile of embellishments PLEASE let me know, I have lots more little bits I am desperate to house.

What’s In My Shopping Bag This Week

As you know I am being very frugal this year when it come to my crafty shopping, however as all my Valentine goodies disappeared almost as soon as I put them out, I have allowed myself a few pennies to spend (and the rest will be saved)…..

…. but I have invested in a 6” x 6” Papermania Portobello Road paper pack (£4). I just adore the patterns, colours and shabby chic effect,  and although I have no ideas at the moment as to what to do with the papers, apart from  jars of red, white and blue bonbons, I am hoping to make a few things to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee in the coming few months.

I also splashed out on these four earring and necklace sets from a local market in Penkridge, they were priced at 2 for £1!!  Now the ‘diamonds and pearls’ were falling out as handed my money over, but it was the enamel effect flowers that I had my beady eye on. I plan to disassemble them and make new steampunk type pendants with the parts, sticking the gems back won't be a problem

Marks and Spencer Bags of Love – chocolate hearts £2.50

I am also re-investing some of my pennies in heart shaped chocolates, initially with Mothers Day in mind. It’s hard to find chocolate hearts at the best of times and by checking the sell by dates on them (Dec 2012)  I know I can use them for various projects in the coming months.

Tesco chocolate hearts £1 a net

Tesco Love Bugs - £1 a net

And the same goes for Tesco chocolate ladybirds which I found too late to use for Valentines Day, but will be nevertheless be brilliant for Easter.

Tim Holtz Inspired Memory Glass Pendant

I think I am getting there very slowly, my Compendium of Curiosities doesn’t seem to have left my side since I picked it up on Saturday and as you can see I took what Tim has written about using corners to heart!

I have used two Ranger 1.5ins x 1.5ins Memory Glass squares, with a text background and part of a punched heart on top of that. I still find applying the foil tape to join the glasses together fiddly but it’s getting easier and if it is a bit rough and ready it adds to the charm. The bird cage was from Marc, I’ve just added a gem to cover the hole on the top. I didn’t know I had the corner till I was searching through my boxes for a key, so I was thrilled when I found it as it’s perfect where it is, again with a three small gems added.

Dead chuffed!

Diamond Jubilee Crafts - Fiddle-Fart Designer Bag!

I saw this picture in one of the Sunday papers of Cheryl Cole with a designer newsprint bag by Anya Hindmarsh and I thought it would be funny to make my own, especially as I make so many newspaper cards and save myself £190 at the same time!!!

First I put together the design using Publisher

I liked the idea of just using black and white with just the union flags in colour.  Then, just as I was about to put the transfer paper into the printer I suddenly remembered to reverse the image so that it was the right when I ironed it onto the fabric, how many times have I forgotten to do that before?!!!!

I was thrilled with how it turned out, and decided to add just a few flat backed gems for extra bling.

I am just praying that I get tickets for the Diamond Jubilee Concert … so I can use it …. for my programme and popcorn .....

… if I’m not thrown in the Tower for treason first!

Baby Bump Mini Hanger

This mini hanger measures 3.5cms x 7.5cm and is made using an child’s wooden domino as the base.

Work has been awash with pregnant ladies of late … which gave me the idea for this little hanger.  I’ve made it in the same as I make my tags but have drilled two holes along the top to thread a ribbon through to hang it by. This first attempt has now given me a lot of other ideas/themes for hangers so watch this space …….

Decopatch Watering Can

I tried a putting an ivy in my Decopatched watering can ….. so cute.

Tim Holtz Inspired Brooch Pin

I was stroking the pages reading my copy of Tim Holtz’s “A Compendium of Curiosities” wishing I could make just one thing half as beautifully as he does. I love his style so much but whenever I try something it invariably turns out pants, then I leave it for ages until I find the courage va va vroom to try again! BUT I know I give up too easily and the only way to perfect my “art” is to persevere.

It was on Page 9 in a section about Ornate Plates that got me all inspired, I don’t have any as fancy as Tim’s but I remembered I do have some plain brass ones stashed away ….

My first slight error, was colouring the plate with a brown permanent pen (I think I should invest in some Alcohol Inks for another time), the finish could have been better, but I know I am super critical with myself whenever I try to “Do a Tim”.

Anyway, I stamped a tiny bird image onto a text paper and glued it onto the back of the bookplate with another stronger piece of black card over it. I then held my breath as I filled the centre with Ranger Glossy Accents!

While I waited for it to set I searched through a box of old jewellery bits my mum had given me …. and the black flower beads were perfect for what I had on mind. I stuck them on with E6000 glue (as recommended by Marc) and then I couldn’t help adding the two brass dragonflies and a few flat backed gems, for complete FiddleFart overkill!!

I must be pleased because I know will wear the brooch sometime this week and it is very much “my style”. However, I am going to have another go, substituting the birds, which I am not really sure about, with an old fashioned style Dymo label maker word and see how that looks.

Birthday Newspaper For My Sister

This is the card I mad for my sister’s birthday last year.

She “works” as a volunteer in national/international sports events all over the country, so I thought I would use that as the theme. It made her laugh!
I make so many newspaper cards that I am trying to spread them out ... didn't realise until today that this has been waiting for almost eleven months to get an airing!!!

Two Quick Cards for Fiftieth Birthdays

I made this card for my Sister In Laws 50th birthday.  I stuck a variety of alphabet stickers on different patterned paper and arranged them in a higgledy piggledy fashion onto the card blank with a few paper flowers with gem centres to embellish. Voila!

I made this second card in almighty rush, but it looks ok. 

The squares are from a Papermania paper shape set bought for £2.50, much reduced, at the Hobbycrafts Show at the NEC a couple of years ago.  The letters are odds and ends from  American Crafts self adhesive alphabet sheets.

Little Boat Wooden Tags

The base of these tags have been made using children’s wooden dominoes with the holes being made using a PowerCraft hobby drill.

Nothing fancy today, just using up of odd bits and pieces that I’ve had for ages to continue my resolve not to buy new stuff while I have more than enough stash to last me, even if I crafted non stop 24 hours a day for the next 25 years!

I was thinking that these would be OK for little boys birthday parcels or for Dad’s on Father’s Day.

Altered Primark Necklace

From this …….

……. to this …..

I was messing about with a Cern’ (Franc and Bourgeois) gold outliner for glass painting on this necklace. When I first tried the outliner on the beads it was far too thick, so I wiped it off and noticed that quite a nice pattern was left, so I tried again, but this time using only the tiniest amount of gold in a swirly pattern, and this is the result.

FiddleFart Guest Crafter – The Duke "Mr FiddleFart"

 
“The Duke” is the most brilliantly creative person I know, he can make or mend anything! So when our son asked if he could come up with an idea to make a tally chart for his team at work, to inspire them to meet all their targets and  "win" a free breakfast, this is what “The Duke” came up with.

….. Made using scraps of wood, blackboard and ordinary paint, the addition of  plastic knives and forks and winners medals was just pure genius!

My favourite part was the easel ........


...... which I  have now asked him to make me but in miniature for my cards etc.

My Guest Crafter Today …..Ellie

One of the Year 7 students Ellie at school bought me this adorable felted penguin she made after getting the Kirsty Allsopp craft book for Christmas to see and I promised I would make her one of my guest crafters. How cute is he??

I also tried to persuade her that it really belonged on my desk, but she was having none of it!

Wooden Heart Card

This card measures 4in x 4ins and is made using a ribbed effect Kraft card.

No need for mucho explanation for this card today, just to say that the wooden heart was originally a natural colour but I decided to colour it with a red Whisper felt pen to give it a more Valentine flavour.