Christmas 2013 - Elizabeth Shaw Mints

Now,  you didn’t actually think that I wasn’t going to feature any Elizabeth Shaw mints this Christmas did you??
This year I decided to put them in boxes with the intention of people scattering them on their festive table as after dinner mints.

I’ve made up my Sizzix Bigz XL Box No. 3 in plain white linen card.  It’s a very simple box to put together and as you can see it’s also quite a substantial size.  http://www.sizzix.com/product/656278/sizzix-bigz-xl-die-box-3.  I wish, perhaps, I’d used a coloured or fancier card ….. but I will confess that I’ve had a whole stack of these boxes cut out for over two years now and thought I’d best use a few of them before cutting up new stuff!  The tag is a leftover from last year -  http://itsallfiddlefart.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/snowman-tags.html

As per usual I have used my Stampin’ Up scallop and plain (1 3/8)  circle punches ……

…… and put silver foil Christmas stickers from this years Hobbycraft Christmas range on one side …

….. and silver sentiment circles from CraftWork Cards, backed on red on the other side   (Product Code: 03 006 000 23)
http://craftworkcards.co.uk/products/1585/in-circles-christmas-gold-silver.html
So that’s Elizabeth Shaw mints done for another year ….. all I can say is look out Valentines Day, here I come!!

I have found that the best price to get these mints is BM Bargains as I prefer the milk ones.  A box there usually costs £1.99. Finding them in the supermarket is generally a bit hit and miss but they usually cost about £3.69 a box, unless they are on BOGOF.  When I see them in BM Bargains I always check the best before date first (these were August 2014) and then stock up!

Snowflake Seals

I am sooooooo into seals at the moment ……  as this is a craft blog naturally I mean the letter/parcel ones, as opposed to the cute, big eyed, swimming, fish eating variety!!!

So I decided to treat myself to seal set which consists of a handle and three interchangeable seals, a daisy, a leaf and a snowflake, with lots of other designs available for all occasions, there is a holly and a snowman one that I also have my eye on. It cost me £8.99 on e-Bay with free P & P, but I think prices vary.

It took a couple of attempts to pour just about the right amount of white Utee out and then try and get the seal roughly in the middle, but that’s the beauty of seals, they are not meant to be perfect. From one small pan of utee you can see (above) how many seals I got. 

I tried to colour a few with blue micra powder, but am not that enamoured with how they have come our, I quite fancied just a hint of blue round the edges, but I think I was a bit heavy handed.

These I think are destined for tags ….. I am thinking white or grey, with a pale blue snowflake background, silver eyelet and blue and white bakers twine ….. so off to the drawing board I go …….

Snowman No.2

This is the second snowman doodle I found in one of my craftroom drawers gathering dust ….. which you are most welcome to download if you would like too.https://www.dropbox.com/s/0ujnew2alyb60vg/snowman%202.jpg

As I said before, a snowman is a snowman in many shapes and forms and as far as I am concerned as I drew “Harold” with my own fair hand using a Stabilo black point 88, fine 0,4  on a sheet of white scrap card, way back when, the design is mine and I am free to give it away to whoever I like!!!

Bubble Sticker Christmas Tags

I think these tags will end up being used on my Christmas sweetie bags which I will take to work as Christmas approaches. I’ve used 3D bubble stickers that I found in The 99p Store last year and I am determined that they will all be used up this year, I don’t want them hanging round for another year! (although I have seen them in some shops this year too).

Each little bubble scene contains either two snowmen or two Santas, but I decided to open up a few bubbles and use the snowmen/santas to further embellish the tags.

I have also used small scraps of holly paper which I mat and layered on silver mirror card, quite a bit of faux stitching and a handwritten “Let It Snow”, also mat and layered on silver.  The red and white butchers/bakers twine just adds the final touch that brings the whole tag together.  Done and fairy dusted!!!

A Fiddle Fart Painting For My “New Sister” The Equally Lovely Denise

Back in October http://itsallfiddlefart.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/whats-on-my-wall-wednesday.html  I started a new painting after e-mailing the Equally Lovely Denise to see if she would like to do a crafty swop, as I had a hankering for six crocheted cushion covers for my Wolverhampton lounging, but as I can’t crochet for toffee I was a stymied. Fortunately Denise said yes ….. and we had a win win situation! My start back in October boded well, the canvas which measures approx. 48ins x 36ins was almost half way done, and then I just got very busy with other things, and the promising progress drew to a grinding halt, aghhhh!!!!!

But, all last week I kept telling myself that I WOULD finish it this weekend, as there was no way I wanted to be painting it on Christmas Eve, which is what I  was in danger of doing.

But as there are things going on in my craft room, like an open loft hatch, I had to work in my dining room on the table, not my angle of choice, as I far prefer to work up against a wall ….if you pardon the expression!!!!

All the time I was working I was not at all sure how it was going to turn out.  I wanted the flowers to be brighter and less detailed than my last two efforts , and I wasn’t too sure about the birds.

Once most of the space was filled in, I got out a thick, black marker pen to add the detail and fill in the fiddly gaps ….. it was only then I relaxed and thought, it’s going to look ok!

I did however find it very hard to know when to stop adding a squiggle or a line here and there and just walk away, and say that’s it, it’s done.

I tried to do it a couple of times and then couldn’t resist going back with a white Posca pen to add a few more fiddles and diddles!

I just hope the aforementioned Equally Lovely Denise thinks it’s a fair swop!

It may be a while before I dabble again, I think I paint like a crafter, not an artist. I don’t find it as relaxing as I think I should, mind you the size can’t help!!!   However I don’t think I will say never ever again!!! 

I got my inspiration was from an artist called Heather Galler, I just love all of here stuff, especially the houses and the dogs, and I am not really a doggy person

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Heather+Galler+artist&espv=210&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=J75kUq3kJ-Lz0gX_2YGACw&ved=0CEAQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=923

Hobby Craft Wooden Christmas Card

I have Marc to thank for my renewed enthusiasm for using glitter, until a week or so ago all I possessed was my beloved diamond/fairy dust translucent glitter, used for the odd titivation, anything I may have had in the past had been sent to the local charity shop a while back.  But seeing Marc’s vast array of glitter and playing with it again ….. made me see the possibilities.

Which was probably why I bought three of these wooden Christmas cards from Hobbycraft
http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/hobbycraft-wooden-christmas-card-and-envelope-bird-and-bauble-natural/586246-1000
In fact I found all the glittering very relaxing and therapeutic!

The only think I added to all the glitter was a few flat backed pearls for the mistletoe berries to add a little dimension and a different texture.

The only thing I am not too keen on is the “Happy Holidays” sentiment …. it’s a little too “American” for me ….. I would have much preferred a Happy/Merry Christmas.  I admit I didn’t notice it until I got home, had I, I probably wouldn’t have bought them ….. but I daresay nobody else will notice, it’s just a me thing!

Another Bejewelled Dunelm Illuminated Christmas Tree Cone

After the success of my first decorated Dunelm Christmas Tree cone, I just couldn’t resist experimenting some more ….. wondering what one would look like decorated with a couple of boxes of very small multi-coloured baubles I got in Poundland …… (25 baubles per box)

Well ….. I think I like this one even more than my first one in a gaudy, not so tasteful kind of a way ……. again my fingers are raw because I am c**p with pliers and jump rings, but it was worth it!

To add even more bling I also stuck hologram snowflakes in the gaps to help reflect the light and colours.

I am tempted to put another couple of cones away …. for more experimentation …. but then again my craft room is fit to bursting point already.  However ……  if I saw any of them in a sale after Christmas ……..!!!!!

Wishing W.E.Interiors, in Battersea, The Most Wonderful Launch Night!

Well,  if I can’t give one of my dearest friends a humungously mahooosive and shamelessly blatant plug on my blog,  then who can????!!!!!

Tonight (26th November), Marc’s partner Ian and his sister Jan launch their new venture W.E. Interiors in Battersea, which specialises in interior design, bespoke furniture, and soft furnishings, showcasing fabric ranges and accessories from new, very exciting and innovative designers.During my last visit in October I had the most WONDERFUL day with Ian, when he took me to have a mooch round W.E. Interiors  AND  “play shop”.  Oh my life, he only asked me to help price some of his most gorgeous vases and accessories, me, the Poundshop Queen, having to think “London Prices” !!!   Well, I tried my best, adding the odd nought here and there …. feeling very professional and business like in my faux fur coat and, I do believe, some of those items have since been sold!

There were a couple of pieces that I had to put on my “Objects of Desire” list …..

….. like this bespoke desk. OMG ….. I can just see me now attending to my daily correspondence,  sat sitting there…… just look at the flower drawer knobs!!! So me or what???   The moment I saw it, I knew I wanted it …..

……. and with it’s matching stool.  They will probably end up in the house of someone very, very famous, but at least I can say I saw and desired them first!

….. I wouldn’t say no to this chair either  …. as it would very much suit my boudoir bedroom ….

And as for this sideboard …… let’s just say I stroked it and just wished I had a space for it ……

And talking of houses and interior designs, if ever I get “discovered” and need to move to London and into a bijoux London Lounging Pad, I know exactly who I would be my exclusive interior designer … Ian!!!  I have seen what he has done to his and Marc’s flat and believe me every time I visit I just go wow. Ian puts colours together that mere mortals like you or I just wouldn’t dare and then adds gorgeous, quirky decorative touches ….. I am soooooooooo jealous. Coupled with the fact that Ian has taught me so much about furniture, design, colour and architecture, I am so lucky, I just wish I had met him when I was younger and he’d taken me under his wing!!!!

But I digress ….  since I was in the shop, Ian has also stocked some beautiful cushions and lamp shades by Lorna Syson …… my aforementioned “Objects of Desire” list has just got even longer!!!! How on earth do you choose which one you like?

I know Marc has been busy too, last night we only had time for a very brief natter as he was up to his eyeballs making over 400 assorted (and knowing Marc’s cooking delicious), canapés, this after making goodness knows how many complimentary gift bags, just like they have at The Oscars!!!!

So good luck Ian and Jan and W.E Interiors ……

you deserve it!

W.E. Interiors 557-561 Battersea Park Road, SW11 3BL London, United Kingdom
Phone
020 7738 2424      Email: ian@weinteriors.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Weinteriors/187642458091845

Movember Moustaches

Remember the moustaches I started with Marc using his Ranger Melt Pot and a Poundland ice cube tray? 

Well,  I finally got round to sticking the pin backs on after a couple of false starts caused by not using a strong enough glue and then sorting out the packaging, ready to sell at work to raise more funds.

I attached the moustache to the card using two small punched holes and then tying a thread though them and the pin back.

And then sealed them in a cello bags using my bag sealer

Now fingers crossed they all go!!

Snowflake Tags

These are a few tags that I made using some of the plastic snowflakes I found in a charity shop last week for £1.50 for a huge bag full.

The tags measure approximately 4ins x 2ins and are hand cut from a sheet of navy card.  In the centre I added a mat and layered panel using a Craft Creations paper – Snowflakes on Dark Blue (SR065P) that I have had for years, on silver mirror card, the original price said 40p!

I made up two snowflakes,  taking a smaller one and gluing it onto a larger one and then adding a flat backed gem in the middle to add dimension and then  glued  them both onto the panel, adding a silver corner peel off and two sets of three peel off dots, for extra bling.

This year I am loving Bakers/Butchers twine ….. and can’t believe how it just brings the whole tag together and makes it look doubly, doubly, Christmassy.

"Rusty" Christmas Cards for 2013 – Snowmen

I have to admit to feeling very rusty as far as making cards is concerned, but I began to feel the old adrenalin flowing as I was making these ….. but I have to admit they are VERY, VERY basic….. I feel my lack of mojo has forced me back to basics and square one in a lot of ways.

I just love the “snowy” card I have used, from Payper Box (fill a plastic wallet), as soon as I saw it I thought snowman and Christmas. The bubble snowmen which contain small seed beads came from The 99p Store last year, which I didn’t use in the end but was determined I would use this year.  I have however seen them again in the pound shops again this year if you fancy some too.  The metal Making Memories eyelet plaques came from the Hobbycrafts Show at the NEC years and years ago cost me 50p a pack, but again have never been used ….. well this year, is their year!

I made the topper first, snow and sky, adding faux stitching, then mat and layered on silver ….. and a snowman plonked in the middle. I then put the topper onto the 5ins x 5ins card base and then set the eyelet.  Nothing to it really ….. simples and as I said very, very basic!

Snowman Doodle No.1

I found a couple of doodles I had done of snowmen, goodness knows when, at the bottom of one of my craft room drawers …. and I thought, why not ….  with a tiny bit of jiggery pokery I could offer them as a download on my blog!!  So I have ……https://www.dropbox.com/s/t8d7o9c64o6p7hz/snowman.jpg

A snowman is a snowman and comes in many forms, and as far as I am concerned as I drew “Dilbert” with my own fair hand using a Stabilo black point 88, fine 0,4  on a sheet of white scrap card, way back when, the design is mine and I am free to give it away to whoever I like!!!

I haven’t done anything with it myself ….. with time flying as fast as it is I probably won’t ….. this year, but if you do, I would love to see what you do with it.