Starting Iris’s Project Life Album

I remember seeing Becky Higgins Project Life on Create and Craft, and to be honest, it didn’t really twig with me ….

……. and then when Marc came to stay and we saw the boxes in HobbyCraft he was very enthusiastic about it all and I became more curious. 

Well …….  to cut a long story short, and as you can see from the pictures,  I decided to buy an album, page protectors and a couple of core card kits as a first wedding anniversary present for Tom and Laura as it was their paper anniversary.

But, before I gave it to them I shared out some of the core cards and page protectors with Denise, Iris’s equally proud, significant other Nanny, so she can add to the album too, as and when, like me. 

My box of cards is now permanently on my desk in my craftroom so that I can just reach over and  “do” one whenever the mood takes me, ……

….. especially after special occasions or visits when my camera is permanently clicking anyway or when a memory suddenly springs to mind.

I also wanted Iris to know all about when her Daddy was a little boy and growing up ……..

…… and about her Granddad Andy.…..

…… who would have absolutely adored her and been the most wonderful, wonderful, patient Granddad, who would have given her the moon on a stick if she’d asked for it!So Project Life also seemed to be an ideal way of revisiting old photos and telling the stories behind them …..

…….as well as stories of the present.

I have always found the idea of filling a whole scrapbook page very daunting, the Project Life cards I have measure 3inx x 4ins and 6ins x 4ins which is just enough for a few words or story and a small photo or two.

However, as I have a suitcase of photos in the attic to work my way through and so many happy family occasions in the future I think I have a Project For Life!!!!

Monkey Card

This card measure 5ins x 5ins
This is the card “The Boys” made when Iris was born!!!! Erm…. they used the self adhesive monkey stickers that I found in Michael's in Las Vegas.

Shopping With The Duch …..

I think they had these in Marks and Spencer last year …… but I didn’t buy any as I wasn’t making any Christmas crafty stuff on mass ……

But this year I just had to take advantage of their 3 for 2 offer ….. they are £2 a net or at the moment on a buy two get one free offer. 

There are 27 sprouts per net, yes, I actually counted them…..and I think I am going to use them in a matchbox tree decoration, as 8 sprouts fit in the box tray perfectly ….. so I have enough to make up 10 matchboxes, which is probably plenty enough for my needs. All  I need to do now is think of a funny tag line to put on the front/back of the box.

Halloween Monster Matchboxes

I think this is my last Halloween project of 2014. Finding interesting things in the poundshops to craft with this year has been tough …. I just can’t believe that there has hardly been any stickers to be had ….. thank goodness I had some leftover from last year.

So, for this final make I have decided to use the Halloween stickers sent to me by Dianne, my special blog friend in Florida.  In a way I was sad to finally use them, but they are no use in a drawer only to be admired now and again.

I have chosen to use them on some more Halloween matchboxes, using my Stampin’Up matchbox die and have also tried to use up as many of the other bits and pieces I have left over from this year and last, so perhaps next year I can start afresh.

I love working with orange, purple, black, green and orange, there is nothing subtle about them and they shouldn’t go together, but they do.

I am wondering if I can transfer the colours to Christmas ….. I am not sure if I have any embellishments or can find embellishments in these colours …. but perhaps it’s the perfect excuse to get my Silhouette out and make my own!

Halloween Trick Or Treat Party Bag

This follows on from the Halloween card I made the other day and uses a plain brown lunch bag (10 for £1 Home Bargains etc.) and the Halloween paper chains I found in HobbyCraft (120 for £1).

All I did was make a front and back panel for the bag by sticking four paper chain strips side by side on a piece of scrap paper and trimming them down to size, and then mat and layered each panel on black paper. I added another strip across each panel that said Happy Halloween, and faux stitched, using a white gel pen, around the black matting and across the middle strip to make the panels “pop”

I stuck the panels on each side of the bag, folding them across the crease of the bag so that it could still be stored flat and then, in the spirit of Halloween, hung two spare plastic ghostie novelties on a short length of cord, threaded through a hole punched in the handle of each side. 

So,  if I was having a Halloween party, for just £2 I could make 10 really cute bags …… adding a novelty or two would only add another pound (packet of assorted Halloween novelties £1 Poundland)  ….. much cuter than a printed plastic bag and taking all but a few minutes to make each one.

Creepy Spider Halloween Lollipop Holders

I have finally used up ALL of the 72 spiders I got for a pound, from a local poundshop!

….. and in the process found another use for the Halloween paper chains I got from HobbyCraft (120 links for £1) and a spare bag of skull lollies from PoundWorld (19 lollies in a bag), which I have to say tasted pretty good, as I sucked on one as I worked  …… as part of my market research!!!!!!!

So ……. for the cover I took a strip of purple card 6cms wide and scored it on my scoreboard at 7cms, 1cm and 7cm intervals.

I stuck a spider paper chain down the centre of the strip and trimmed as necessary, punching two holes at either end, holding both ends together so that they would marry up when a ribbon was threaded through, followed by a little faux stitching using a white gel pen

I put two lollies in each holder, sticking them together with a little double sided tape to keep them together …………. and glued the spiders on with a glue gun, trying to place them over a spider on the paper chain for a 3D sort of effect.

I am tempted to buy another bag of spiders away for next year as they have been so useful ….. and especially as Halloween bits and pieces to inspire me to craft with have been few on the ground this year …..

Halloween Scary Spider Halloween Matchboxes.

Although I have used my Stampin’Up Matchbox die for this idea, there are plenty of matchbox templates on the internet that could be used instead.

I have used the adhesive foam spider and web stickers I got from HobbyCraft a week or so ago (£1) on these boxes……..

……. but I couldn’t resist sticking googly eyes on all the spiders before using them, it had to be done!

I cut the webs in half to make corners, used up scraps of Halloween borders that I’ve had for a couple of years and doodled away to my hearts content.

I also used my Stampin’Up scalloped and punches for the sentiments. Boo!

Halloween Lollipop Holders

I have never made lollipop holders before, but I had a few lollies left over from my Halloween boxes  and I didn’t want them to go to waste ……. so I got to thinking ……

So ……. for the cover I took a strip of purple card 6cms wide and then scored it on my scoreboard at 6cms, 1cm and 6cm intervals

…… then punched two holes holding both sides together so that they matched, to thread a ribbon through……..

……. followed by a bit of doodling, using a black fine liner and white gel pen.

Then out came my trusty old Stampin’Up punches and some Halloween stickers left over from last year……..

……. to decorate the front and the back of the holder.

All that was left to do then was to thread through short length of ribbon and tie a bow, which also helps keep the lollies in place,

Front and back view ……

Now I have worked out how to make a simple template I am thinking this is an idea that will also work for Christmas to make little stocking fillers ….. O wonder if I could do the same for chocolate spoons?

Frankenstein Halloween Trick Or Treat Matchboxes

Although I have used my Stampin’Up Matchbox die for this idea, there are plenty of matchbox templates on the internet that could be used instead.

I decided to have a go at making a Frankenstein Halloween Trick or Treat box but I am not that sure about Frankenstein's face, I don’t think he looks scary enough!

Embellishing the matchbox sleeve was a good way of using up odd bits of scrap paper, card and adhesive Halloween borders…….

……. an excuse to get my Stampin’Up plain and scalloped edge punches out of hibernation.

……. plus, I got to do lots of fiddle fart doodling.

Now,  all I’ve got to do is to find some suitable Halloween sweeties to fill him!

Glow Stick Wreath

Marc and I were talking about the very plain twig wreath that hangs all year round on my front door …… usually it only has a set of Poundshop battery operated lights on it ……..

…… but because of it’s loose weave we worked out that it wouldn’t take a lot to enhance and theme it to different times of the year ……. so this is my very simple first effort for Halloween  ……

All I did was weave a pack of £1 glow bands through it.

It looked so different,  I really want to try it again but next time blitz it  ….. with two packs of bands …..