Fiddle Fart’s First Guest Crafter Of 2018 - Marc

This has to be the cutest, cutest, cutest thing ever and just goes to show, pardon my English was an incredibly clever b****r Marc is!

All I can tell you is that this beautiful Basset Hound (Marc and Iain now have four, see below) has been felted ……..

…….. required an awful lot of patience ……

……. and is totally stunning!

Marc and Iain’s babies.

Its New Years Day 2018!

First of all Fiddle Fart …….  as I said before, I haven’t really crafted properly since September due to my spending weekends away or people coming over etc. and as a result I think my mojo has suffered over that time, so I am going to continue for the next little while at least posting on a Monday, and then perhaps look in the Fiddle Fart archives and re-post  ideas for Valentines Day and Easter, as I did in the lead up to Christmas, just to keep things going and then re-evaluate again in a month or twos time.

My only resolution is a consequence of the above ……. not to buy anymore crafting stuff, no matter how much of a bargain or tempting, I bought too much before Christmas, mainly from The Works and none of it actually got used!  Marc and I had a bit of a discussion when I saw him last as to our buying habits, do we buy to craft or do we buy to collect (and stroke)? I need to learn to craft using what I already have and believe me I could craft for the next 20 years and not need to buy anything.  This I hasten to add will be an extremely hard resolution to keep!

The next two months are going to be pretty busy, the main reason is I that I am having a few alterations done to my bedroom (above, as it looked over Christmas). I decided I wanted drawers on either side of the bed and some extra shelving.

This is what my carpenter Dave and I came up with to match the wardrobes and drawers he created just after I first moved in (below).

Before Pete can get started I need an electric plug socket  moved and another one added to where the top of each set of drawers will be, so the period between Christmas and the New Year seemed to be the ideal time to see where existing pieces of furniture could be moved to or reluctantly got rid of.

 

As it happened the bedside drawers fit perfectly inside one of the wardrobes ….. so that’s a new home for vests, pants and socks sorted!

Initially, I was going to put the Ikea Billy bookcase in the guest room but it just didn’t look right. I had measured it previously and didn’t think it would fit in the hall cupboard but I decided to try it anyway, despite my fears of it getting stuck but it was a perfect fit!  I now have a space for shoes at the bottom and then found some collapsible boxes in Home Bargains that fit after re-spacing the shelves! I was thrilled as it created even more space.  However, in creating space that gives me the opportunity to fill said space, a double edged and very dangerous sword, so perhaps I should add “one thing in so at least one thing out!” to my resolutions!

It all kicks off around 8th January, so I will keep you updated on progress.

Blast From The Past - New Years Smiley Face Favour Bags

I like to make something to “bring the New Year in” on the first day back at work after the Christmas break  …….

….. and as soon as I saw these Thorntons Smiles on a 3 for 2 offer I knew they would be perfect.

So I bagged up nine to a pretzel bag, three of each flavour, I wasn’t being mean, I just didn’t want to be overly generous, as, no doubt, everyone will be on a diet!!!!

I made the tags using punching a large scalloped circle in gold mirror card, and putting a printed calendar tags that I have had for years and really need using up, on one one side and a handwritten New Years message on the other.

Finally, I attached the tag, and a matching ribbon to the bags and trimmed off the excess on the bag. with pinking shears.

The calendar tags are brilliant as you can highlight the date on them.

I tried to look for more pretzel bags on e-bay as I only have a few left, in the past I have only been able to find them from one seller and unfortunately on this occasion couldn’t find them, which means that I am going to have to try out some bookmark bags instead, they are a little wider 65mm as opposed to 50mm, but perhaps they might be a little more versatile, we shall see.

Blast From The Past - Lottery New Year Favours!

As you know,  I like to make little favours for the first day back at work after a major holiday ….  and seeing nets of chocolate coins reduced to 25p with a use before date of August 2013 … well I just couldn’t resist, and came up with this idea…..

I created the sheet of sentiments in Publisher, using  “High Tide”  font free  from http://www.fontpalace.com/font-details/2Peas+High+Tide/

If you would like a copy of my file you can download it free here :- https://www.dropbox.com/s/8vzvploygfll6yl/lucky%20monkey.pdf

I cut the sentiments out and backed them onto the back of a lottery ticket,  trimming the edges to fit the narrow cello bags I used (9cm wide)

I put three coins in each bag,  which then I sealed with my Elitech bag sealer.

I made another sheet of “Happy New Years” which I punched out,  to stick on the front of each packet

Et voila, all that was left to do was pop them in everyone’s sling or pigeon hole on the first day of term.
It's an idea that could be altered to suit other events .....and I shall put my mind to doing a couple more versions of the wording and then offer them as a free download, so watch this space ......

Blast From The Past - New Year Favour

As you know I like to start and end each school term with a small fairing gift that I pop into colleagues pigeon holes ready for the first/last day.

Well, I decided to go very small this term, as no doubt half the people I will give one to will have started a new diet ….. so one teeny, weeny Ferrero Rocher won’t hurt will it?

And, as I feel all crafted out after Christmas, I have used some pre-made, cut and scored wedding favour boxes (from Hobbycraft) that  I’ve had for years, all I’ve had to do is to make them up.  A bit of faux stitching, handwriting and a tiny gift bow on the top and that’s it,  done and dusted!

Blast From The Past - New Years Eve Crafty Gifts - Midnight Feast Box

I was thinking about New Year and First Footing and came up with this really daft idea for a New Years Eve favour - as my sister would say “You have too much time on your hands!”

It opens up to reveal a Midnight Feast – in this case two shortbread biscuits, because I always think of Scotland at New Year, but you could put anything you like in with a New Year/Midnight Feast idea

The box is made using my Sizzix Bigz Shaker Box Die (No. 655134) in a dark blue cardboard. I have doodled on it using a white gel pen and highlighted the date on the scalloped calendar tab which is from Sarah’s Cards.

As I said this is a daft idea but I thought it might set other peoples imaginations off……, you could adapt it for a sleepover party for example.

A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Well, I’m in Wolverhampton over the holiday, staying with Lucy, my daughter and spending time with the in-laws, and on Saturday we decided to spend the day in Bridgnorth to blow away the cobwebs, enjoy the scenery and just mooch a bit ……..

Once again I came back still thinking what a lovely, lovely place it would be to live, and if I ever had to move again Bridgnorth would be on my list. As a family it’s a place filled with so many happy memories of days and weekends away, camping, fishing and where The Duke did so much work, the Winding House Tearooms (below) next to the cliff railway being one of his particular favourites.

It was a place we never tired of and after yesterdays trip, after two years or so, it is still reassuringly familiar and unchanged in our hearts.

The market was on and I admit I have so missed a good old market rummage, in particular Bridgnorth’s  with it’s mixture of second hand/car boot type stalls,  along with the other usual stalls selling food, clothing, plants, tools, etc..

It was on one second-hand stall in particular I had my two most brilliant finds, this Arthur Wood lustre vase for just £1 ……  which I think will be perfect in my new look bedroom (more of that in a later post) – I looked it up on e-bay and there are a few around with an asking price of around £24ish each.

On the same stall I found this small Royal Doulton Minden dish, which as you know is something I collect but still use on a daily basis, for another £1, I have never paid a price as low for a piece before …… I was thrilled, as you can imagine.

Then we moved into the High Street for some lunch and a look round the Charity Shops.  Now, I had a backpack on my list of things I need for my trip to New York to celebrate my 60th and this vintage Fiorelli was perfect, they are bags I have always liked but couldn't really afford, but this cost me just £7.50 and is much better quality than I would have paid for something new.  It’s in perfect condition despite it having some age to it, I think it could possibly be from the late 80’s?

So all in all it was a brilliant day ……. made all the more brilliant when Lu and I booked our next Greek Odyssey to Crete the following morning on Christmas Eve ……… so far it’s beginning to look like the Christmas that just keeps giving!

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas with love xxxxxx

A Blast From The Past - Sweetie Test Tubes From Christmas 2009

I can't claim that this is my own idea. I found lots of test tube favors when Googling and thought I would have a go at making one myself.

I bought the test tubes off e-bay, but when they arrived I was disappointed because the top was hollow, but, after much head scratching and rifling about in my drawers, I found some extra large gems that fit over the hole perfectly..... a bit of a fiddle fart, but it did the trick.

Thirteen jelly beans (the posh ones - 100's of different flavours) fit in each tube. The ones in this tube are in Christmas colours, but because of the huge variety of beans it's easy to do different combinations, like black, orange and green for Halloween, yellow,orange and green for Easter, all you need then is a co-ordinating ribbon and tag. I've used a Papermania metal rimmed tag (the ones that come in a box of assorted shapes and sizes)

I am now on the look out for corks that would fit into the top of the tube for a different look and also larger tubes that could fit bigger sweets ....... I'm never satisfied!

Blast From The Past - Christmas Cookie Cutter Gift From Christmas 2009

This idea has been going around for quite a while and I thought it would be nice to have a go at doing my own version .

There are lots of variations on the poem I have used which can be found easily on various crafting websites and forums.

I have typed and printed the verse, cutting it out in a tag shape, adding faux stitching round the edges and tiny silver stars.

The red ribbon is fastened through the tag and I have glued the ends together, rather than tie them for a neater finish.

The idea could be varied for birthdays and other occasions, with different shaped cutters.

Blast From The Past - First Footing - New Years Eve Crafty Gifts

I am still thinking about New Years Eve and First Footing, and have had another one of my ideas, but what the heck .....

It’s traditional for a first footer to carry a lump of coal ……... well I have substituted coal for liquorice! But you could easily swop liqourice for coconut macaroons or nutty cluster!

I got the footprint stickers from the US ages ago, I must have had about 20 packets but I have used them on so many projects, I shall be looking to order some more in the New Year as I only have a few left, I just hope I can find them again.  I think they are from Stickapotomus.

I thought using the white/silver glitter card on the topper would represent a good frosty New Years Eve path!

Blast From The Past - Candy Cane Mouse From Christmas 2010

Google “candy cane mouse” in images and you'll get lots and lots of results, this is my version.

I initially downloaded a template from this site:-http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/dawns_stamping_thoughts/2008/11/candy-cane-mouse.html (Thank you Dawn), but when I started making it I decided to change the colours, ears and face a little bit.

I’ve added large googly eyes and faux sticking, hoping to get a soft patchwork toy sort of effect. The ears are stuck on using a sticky foam pad for extra dimension.

This is my protype, the tape looks awful! It will be replaced by a thin strip of foam pad under the cane, that won't be seen.  I was just in too much of a hurry to get the mouse photographed.  So my apologies for the shonky and very unprofessional finish!!!