Gingham File

I’ve put together a pdf file of 8 pages of small gingham if you would like a copy just e-mail me.

Let It Snow

I’ve used a digikit to make this card from :- http://sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/product.php?productid=16188&cat=0&page=1  it’s called Little Joys and it’s just so lovely.  I am fussy about my snowmen, and the snowmen in this kit are perfect.

I’ve cut the snowman out and added small black stickers on his eyes and mouth, and tiny buttons down his front. For the background I’ve used a paper from the same kit and white glitter paper in wavy layers to give texture to the snow.

The snowflakes are made using a punch and the signpost is handwritten and is made using scraps of a wood effect paper.

Lonely Snowman Card

I’ve looked at this snowman card and I am going to do it again …… the centre square is too big and makes the snowman look very lonely.  I think I need to trim another centimetre, if not a smidgeon more, all the way around to make it look more balanced.

The snowman is a button I got from E-Bay USA a couple of Christmas’s ago, it was part of a bumper bag I got for about £6. The sky background is navy Bazzill paper that I have doodled on with a white gel pen.

Decorated Chocolate Bars

I hope you don’t mind me resurrecting one of last years ideas, but I have had a couple of questions about chocolate bars! ………  Please don’t do this to me ……… I have a pair of ski trousers at the end of my bed as a constant reminder that I have to get into them for February 19th when I am going to Czech Republic with my PE Dept.  At the moment I need a safety pin bigger than the one on Orville the Ducks nappy  to hold them together ….. not a good look …… but I digress …..

 

These are large bars of chocolate – I think they cost about 99p.  I’ve made a new sleeve for them, using part of a 12 x 12 paper, a red band round the  middle, a sentiment and a few twiddly diddly bits and my trade mark faux stitching. It’s amazing just how glamorous and special you can make a chocolate bar look.  This is a little “fairing” gift, instead of a card, that I might give to say George the Banga bus driver (see Mum’s Monkey) as a little thank you for getting me home each night from work.

There are lots of sites with chocolate sayings that you can use, and not just for Christmas ….

http://danworona.50megs.com/custom.html

http://www.lookinggood123.com/2008/October/Chocolate-Quotes-and-Chocolate-Sayings.htm

http://www.infobarrel.com/Famous_and_funny_sayings_about_chocolate

It’s not how much you spend, it’s the thought and time that you have put into a small gift that counts.

Cards Using 3D Stickers.

I have see these 3D embellishments in crafts shops and I think they were priced at about £1.99 for 4, so imagine my excitement when I found them on Penkridge Market for £2.25 for 8, which works out at 28p instead of 49p each.

The designs are quite sweet and a little bit different from what I usually use on my Christmas cards – I don’t think I’ve ever used cutesy children before!

I’ve used scraps of paper for the backgrounds but  can’t remember the name of them.  Though I think that the burgundy and white is a Papermania Christmas paper.

What I like about the stickers is that they are already embellished with small gems etc. which it what I would usually do, so it’s saved me a lot of fiddle fart.

I wish I could do cards like other bloggers with lots of fancy cut layers, borders and all the fiddly twiddly bits, but I wouldn’t know where to start …..

……. However I might just set myself a challenge of studying someone else’s template and having a go. Watch this space ….

What’s On My Desk Wednesday!

I’ll let the pictures tell the story ……. this is an order from my Music Department as a “thank you” to all the choirs !!!!

Candy Cane Mice ……. talk about Pied Piper!

Chocolate Bar Snowmen with the fingers cut from magic finger gloves for their hats.

And chocolate bar Rudolphs …… but I was six chocolate bars short …… so I’ve got to make a few more before I’m finished.

Ho, Ho, Ho!!

Card Toppers Made From Gift Tags

Card toppers can be quite expensive, but there are some really lovely 3D gift tags around at the moment that can be turned into brilliant embellishments for cards.  This pack of 18 cost £1.99, which works out at 11p each.  I got them from one of those Christmas shops that spring up at this time of year. What I like about them is that they are already very  glittery.

All I’ve done is cut off the front panels and then mat and layer them on silver and gingham paper  downloaded from   (http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com),  adding a few bits and pieces like googly eyes, sprigs of holly and little round black Glitterati stickers on the snowman’s mouth and buttons for even more dimension.

The card measures 12cm x 12cm and the centre gingham panel measures 9cm x 9cm.

The snowflakes are made using a snowflake punch.

Jewelled Christmas Tree Tag/Decoration

I got these Christmas tags/decorations from a shop in town in the Christmas sales, as you can see the price was originally £2.50 but I got them for 25p

They are made from a hard plastic covered in glitter, all I have added are a few Paperchase flat backed gems to both sides with a strong glue so that they can be hung on a Christmas tree or used as a posh parcel tag.

Penguin Peg Fridge Magnets

I love these Anita’s 3D laser penguin stickers (99p per pack) and I’ve enjoyed the challenge of making  1in x 1 in embellishments with them.

The fridge magnet base started out on  this Christmas card hanger from Poundland, bought last year but never used.  I know I could have made this all from scratch, but for a pound the hard work has already been done for me, The pegs are a perfect size (smaller that normal pegs) and if I’d found them in a craft shop they’d have cost a lot more than a pound!

I made a template from the original printed square and then made a little background for the penguins using glitter paper and blue card with a bit of faux stitching and snowflakes using a white gel pen.  Silver star sequins complete the effect.  I’ve stuck small round magnets on the back of the peg (these have been taken off other magnets that I have used as embellishments on some of my cards).

Making Gifts Magazine - One of My Projects Is On The Cover!!!!!!!!

I had an e-mail a couple of weeks ago from Sally from Making Gifts Magazine:-

http://www.emagmaker.co.uk/publications/making-gifts/2010/december. It’s an online magazine, so I haven't quite made it too the giddy heights of WH Smith yet, but it's a step in the right direction!  Sally asked if I would like to submit two of my projects for publication.  At first I was reluctant but she is a persistent lady and I relented.  She was interested in my beer mat calendar:-

http://itsallfiddlefart.blogspot.com/2010/08/coasterbeer-mat-desk-calendar.html  and my Old Crock Recycled Cake Stand http://itsallfiddlefart.blogspot.com/2010/10/old-crock-recycled-cake-stand.html.

I would say go and have a look but obviously there is a charge of £1.95 for the issue.……  though if you register on the site you can read the first three editions free:-

http://www.emagmaker.co.uk/publications/free) ….. but I thought that it was a bit of exciting news I would like to share with you.

Jingle Beans Revisited

I made Jingle Bean Jars last Christmas and they were very popular.  I wanted to make them again but didn’t want to repeat the design.

   

So this year I have decided to use up some of the many Paperchase jingle bells I have been hoarding for a couple of years.

The jars are from Poundworld (4 for a £1). They don’t have them very often, which is why I buy in bulk when I see them.  IKEA do an almost identical version called Rajtan which cost £1.99 for 4.

The red snowflake is made from felt and is also from Paperchase and the red gingham ribbon is from Stampin’ Up but is now discontinued.

I keep meaning to make up a few extra jars to keep aside for unexpected birthdays – with Birthday Beans instead of Jingle Beans written on, but as always there just isn't enough time.

Looking For ……

I think I may have to order something like these from the US but if anyone knows where I could find any little bottles  like this in UK, at reasonable price, could you let me know. I’ve found a few on e-bay but they have horrid plastic stoppers. Ideally I would like them to measure no taller than 3 cms.

Thank you for suggestions so far ...... never thought of using bottles from bead sets!!!! This idea could save me a small fortune!!!!

Lovely, Lovely E-Mail – JLS Card

If it’s not being too “up my own bottom”, I really love getting “Follower Mail” – and look what I found in my “in box” yesterday!  How BRILLIANT is this card?  I really must start upping my game!!!

The e-mail was from Paula and said:-

“Hi Helen, Thought I would share with you the card I made for the lady in work, for her grand-daughter.
I was going to use the newspaper template that you kindly emailed to me, but inspired by one of your past blog posts I decided to create the magazine card, more in keeping with her age (13). Her Nan said she is mad on JLS, and the rest came from that. Thanks again ”

I am SO thrilled.  I really do  appreciate every message that people send me and all  their lovely comments and if I can help anyone in anyway  you know I will, if I can xxx ……

Hopefully, after Christmas, I will try and produce a freebie file  for every month ….. I am already working on a series of all the year round  “Hug in A Mug” labels.

Knitted Mug Hug

I just love it when someone introduces me to an idea I have never come across before ….. I was so inspired last night that I sat knitting while watching The Apprentice, which as you know is sacrosanct!  It’s a Mug Hug!

…….. A little wrap around cosy for my mug (a definite too much time on my hands project!). It’s from this book – Knitted Mug Hugs!

I’ve used a red cotton type double knitting wool and size 8 needles for my hug and then embellished it with a large mother of pearl button to fasten it and small pearl heart shaped buttons on the main body.

I couldn’t believe it when I Googled the idea … I got so many wonderful results.

There is so many fun ideas out there,  that I don’t know about  ….. agggghhhh, if only I didn’t have to go to work!

Introducing Bodger and Badger

I love it when I get e-mails from followers and it’s even better when I get pictures too. Aren’t these soooooo cute, made by the super talented Megan (and her mum, Tracey). Me thinks I had better watch out!

Button Bags in Handbag Packets

I’ve had these large buttons for ages and thought it was about time I used them.

There’s nothing fancy about the idea, all I’ve done is stick a brooch fastening on the back with super glue.

It’s often the packaging that can sell a craft item so I thought I would put the badge/brooch in a little handbag made from a narrow cello bag, embellished with a topper, stickers and ribbon.
I have made the topper with just a small scrap of card, scored and folded in half, and then cut off the corners

My Homage To I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

How sad am I? I just LOVE I’m a Celebrity ….. and this year I have a very soft spot for Nigel Havers, as Monkey would say, nom, nom, nom!!!!

So in honour of one of my favourite programmes I have made some Bush Tucker Trial Bags …. complete with truly disgusting, liquid filled jelly creatures!

I can hear my sister saying right now “Helen, you have too much time on your hands”

Especially as I have found time to decorate the back of the packets as well!

What’s In My Shopping Bag Today.

I am really trying to cut back, like every crafter I know, I’m always saying “I have too much stuff”  but I then, can’t resist a bargain, like these large puffy fabric stickers from Poundworld.  They are much larger than most of the stickers I use, but they are just so cute.  They had two other designs, but I resisted, thinking this was the set I would get most use out of.

This next item is pure indulgence ….. £1 from Morrison's, it’s for my festive desk at work….. it even changes colour, how brilliant is that?

I’m afraid my desk takes on a rather grotto-esque appearance in December, with fairy lights round my computer screen, and along my shelves, I have lots of  light up Christmas pens to use and drink from my festive mug ….. and that’s just for starters ……! I’ll post a picture when we are in the season of goodwill!

Finally, do you remember the gingerbread man moulds I was thrilled to find ….. well they have arrived safely all the way from Japan ……

….. but are just a tadge smaller than I had anticipated !! Oh my life!!  However, I am still thrilled …. I am going to make such cute 9 square template cards in the New Year!