You Have To Kiss A Lot of Frogs …..

I saw these Haribo jelly frogs and just had to have a packet …. as I had an idea …. I mixed them with some jelly lips (from SPAR), and a sweetie bag was made!

The foam frog was from a large packet of frogs from HobbyCraft, all I have added  is some googly eyes.

I thought it would be a funny gift for a bride or someone newly engaged or even a little girls princess party.

Valentine Page Markers

I can’t claim this idea for my own, I found it on Martha Stewarts wonderful website amongst the Valentine Gifts http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/valentines-day-gifts

All I’ve used are two faithful plastic heart templates that I have had for years and panic if I can’t find them and scraps of red patterned paper.

I’ve drawn round the templates and cut out the heart shapes. Then I have only glued the upper half of the smaller heart onto the larger one, leaving the bottom part to fit over a page top (I hope that makes sense).

A bit of faux stitching and that’s all there is to them.

This would be a lovely idea for a child to make and as an extra touch you/they could write a little message on the back.

A Very Delicate Valentine Card

This card measures 12.5cm x 12.5cm and is made using ivory linen effect card.

This card came to me in a flash, although it’s supposed to be a Valentine, I think it would make a lovely wedding card too.

I punched out a large (2ins diagonal)  plain heart and used it as a template, drawing round the outline first and then an entwined line, using a sepia coloured Marvy Le Plume pen.

I’ve added a few  leaves and tiny punched daisies with very sparkly glass flat backed gems in the centre. I managed to break the punch in the process (bum) but hey ho! The final touch was made by filling in the leaves and going over the sepia lines with a pale olive green Whisper pen.

A Fairy Clock in 15 minutes

My sister had a clear out and asked me if I wanted this clock, boxed and unused, well I never like to say no!

I left it lying around in the kitchen for a while and then yesterday afternoon I had a brainwave.  First I checked to see if I could take the front  off, which I could and then how much space there was under the hands.

I didn’t have a theme in mind, so I just looked through some of the stickers I had.  They needed to be fairly big as I wanted them to cover some of the numbers on the face completely. These stickers that I got from Poundworld the other week (now reduced to buy 2 get 1 free), were perfect, and I especially like the way they are also textured.

The rest was simple. I just stuck the fairies and flowers carefully into position on the clock face, and then added smaller flowers to the hands using a little glue.  In all this took me no more than 15mins. I usually ignore cheap clocks in Home Bargains etc. but now I have made this, I want to make more. Wouldn’t it be cute to make a Christmas clock?

Simple Valentine Card

This card measures 12.5cm x 12.5cm and is made using ivory linen effect card.

I love papers with text on.  I've used two different designs, but they seem marry up pretty well.  I’ve mat and layered them on gold mirror and red card.

The heart is made using a large punch. I think that this would make a good Valentine for a no frills man.

Candy Cane Valentine Card

This is just a bit of fun ……

A friend found these mini candy canes reduced to 10p a box in Waitrose and thought I could do something with them …….  I am also thinking that I could make some parcel tags to match.

I Love Ewe

A very simple Valentine card made using 3D foam embellishments found in Poundworld, plus a few punched hearts. Sorry I’ve just noticed that the glue is still wet in this picture! Oooooops

Top Tip ….. What I’ll Be Mostly Looking Out For In Charity Shops and Car Boot Sales In the Coming Months ……

Keys ……..

Big, small, shiny or dull, condition doesn’t really matter ……. but hopefully for only a few pence … because I’ll be wanting them to make Santa’s Magic Keys for Christmas 2011……..

What’s On My Desk Wednesday

Thank you so much for all your birthday wishes on Saturday, I thought I’d kept it under wraps, but it seems some people have been reading my profile! I had a very lovely day …. and some wonderful presents …. some of which have now found a home on my desk or in other spots in my craft room.

While I am crafting, I always have a scented candle burning, nothing posh ….. but oh my life …… now I have a Jo Malone candle for my desk, it smells divine ….. and all the posh bags and stuff that went with it made me go very girly …… I don’t do designer stuff, but just this once….  I will make a very gorgeous exception.

Also, while I am “fiddle farting” I’ve often got a bag of Maltesers on the go ……

Well, now I have a beautiful mirrored dish to put them in, so much classier that the bag (or the box)!

I had some lovely craft stuff too. I really want to get into making some special pendants using Memory Frames and Memory Capsules, and now I have no excuse, though you may have to wait a little while to see the finished results, as it’s all a very new medium to me.  I was given some of the pendant trays that I’d asked about on this blog a few weeks ago …plus all the bits to go with them, I was very touched and thrilled.

And finally ….. my knitting has also found a new home in this lovely trugg, (another thing I have a passion for about!). Happy Days!

Cute Pussy Cat Card

Kitten cards are always popular.
 

I’ve used Pop Up Fuzzies from Craft Planet which have a lovely fuzzy texture – they cost 99p for a pack of 8 – not brilliant value when using four on a card.

Born To Shop Card

Do you remember these smiley face stickers I bought a while ago?

Well this is what I have done with them, I’ve been a doodling!

Trying to get a picture of the finished card was a nightmare because of the hologram effect in the stickers, I’m afraid this is the best I could manage.

If I say so myself they are kinda cute!

Thank You Tag

This is a daft little tag I put on a box of chocolates as a “Thank You” for being asked over for a meal by friends. The plate and cutlery embellishment was from a pack of six from Crafty Bitz, it just made a simple gift a little bit more special.

Two Sheep Cards – For the Sheepish

Two cards today made using 3D foam embellishments I found in Poundworld.  I love Poundshops, you never know what you are going to find, BUT you have to buy what takes your fancy there and then as they very rarely have the same crafty things in again once they have sold out.

When I  am making up a batch of cards like this I don’t often put a sentiment on them, that way they can be used for all sorts of occasions or just as a notelet.

I’ve used pretend grass, the sort they use on model railways, for a bit of texture and extra interest.

Two Birthday Cards Using the Smirk for Him Decoupage Pad.

I have finally used up all the pages in my Smirk for Him decoupage pad.  This is the design I liked least, the man and car just didn’t do anything for me, but I was determined to use EVERYTHING in the pad. 

For the first card I've used a blue bazzill paper and a spotty design from Dovecraft's Masculine 6 x 6 paper collection pack.

On the second card I added part of a page from a street atlas as part of the background and then to add dimension used Anita’s 3D gloss finish on his glasses, a tiny clear flat backed gem for a tie pin and silver nail head decorations on the wheels.

My apologies ....

My apologies, I haven't kept a check on my posts and can't believe I have let 3 x 9 square template cards be published one after another ...... very sloppy and boring!  I am so sorry. 

I write most of my posts at weekends and holidays and do have a long schedule list as there is NO WAY I can actually make/produce items to post each day. But I didn't check at the start of the week what would be published ...... three cards of the same design, all using stickers ..... aghhhhh.  Again I am sorry, and it won't happen again!

So Many Bags …….

The little handbag stickers come from Mei Flower bought from NEC Hobbycrafts (they also have an on-line shop)

There’s not a lot to this card but it is ideal for a girl who can never have too many handbags!

Accessorize Heart Sticker Card

 

The thing I like best about these Accessorize heart stickers is that several look like a Kath Kidston print.  I wish they would do a whole packet of just that design.

I’ve used my 9 square card template to make the card as it is ideal for using such small stickers.

From one packet of stickers costing £1.75, I managed to get 7 cards (though there are only 5 in the photo), which isn’t bad going.

Meow – Patchwork Cats

This is a design I use quite a lot, especially when I am using small stickers.

These cat stickers are from Paperchase (£1 a packet)

I have punched 9 small squares in three colours  using a scalloped punch and then stuck them onto a larger white square which has been mat and layered on silver. A few dots here and there and a bit of faux stitching finishes off the card.

Girl with a Balloon Card

I’m not very happy with this card, it needs a lot more fuss and froth, it's far too plain...... and this coming from the woman whose mantra is less is more! I am afraid I can't colour in like the professionals, even though I have used Pro Markers. My flesh tones are more akin to a menopausal hot flush than the blush of childhood excitement! Anyway, I have put it on my window sill so that I can glance up at it now and again and then hopefully get inspiration on how to finish it. I think it needs some writing on the left hand side or something....

As you know, I don’t stamp a lot, but I couldn’t resist this little girl from Stamps Away.  I liked her because she isn't all doe eyed, whimsical and cutsey.  As you can see the stamp is quite small.

The balloon sticker from a set from Accessorize, which is in perfect proportion to the stamp.

Looking again, on screen,  this card is just pants, too pink, the mat and layering is all wrong..... agh!  Oh well, back to the drawing board!