What’s In My Shopping Bag Today

Woo hoooo,  Tesco chocolate ladybirds, there are 23 in a net for £1.00, with a best before date of December 2011 and they taste pretty good too!  I have stocked up, because although they are supposed to be for Valentine’s Day, I am thinking ahead to Mother’s Day and Easter.  As soon as Valentines is over Tesco won’t have anymore, so it’s a case of buy them when you see them.

From Home Bargains chocolate love tokens – 9 in a pack for 39p, with a best before date of 30.06.12.  I’m not too keen on the sentiments, but they can be covered up with a punched scalloped circle, the other side has an embossed heart and arrow which is OK.  The lolly was also 39p, which I thought would be OK as a stirrer in a Valentines Hug in A Mug (sachet hot chocolate, marshmallows, a couple of tokens and a lolly).

I Love You Tea Bag

This is my second attempt at another idea  I found on Martha Stewart’s website:- http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/valentines-day-gifts

My first attempt was just too small and looked rather feeble and non-descript.

I’ve used a large 2in scalloped heart punch and a smaller plain edged one, a tea bag with a string and a black gel pen.

I’ve punched two hearts out and then stuck them back to back on the string, writing “I Love You” on both sides when the heart was dry. A romantic gesture for breakfast in bed  on Valentine’s morning.

I have a couple more ideas for other teabag tags, so watch this space…..

Bee Mine

This card measures 13 cm x 13 cm and is made using white linen effect card from Papermill Direct.

Nothing really special about this card.  I’ve used a 3D foam bee from a pack of stickers from Poundworld, I’ve added wibbly wobbly eyes and micro glitter to the wings.  The heart is made using a large heart punch.

A bit of my own handwriting and faux stitching on a matted square completes the design.

Heart Shaped Bejewelled Box

This is my second attempt at using the Liquid Beadz  I got for just 29p in HobbyCrafts Sale. 

I’ve used a papier mache box, also from Hobbycraft sale – 49p  and  a black Promarker pen to colour the base sides and lid. I also coloured the edge of the lid just in case there are any gaps between the Beadz. 

To give the box an aged look, I’ve used Ranger Distress Crackle Paint (clear Rock Candy) to give it a crackled effect, it’s the first time I have used it and am very impressed.

Loves Me …. Loves Me Not Card

I love gingham and I love daisies, so I was in my element while making this card.

I’ve used a Woodware punch to make the daisies, snipping off the odd petal and using two layers for a bit of extra dimension when the flowers are “fluffed” up.

Yellow flat backed gems and a bit of faux stitching finish the card. The card measures 12.5 x 12.5 cm.

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.