Wolves 18th Birthday Card

Another one of my newspaper cards ……

I’ve made simple decoupage layers of Mick McCarthy and the Wolves Logo. I’ve used Anita’s 3D clear gloss finish on the logo and in the background of Mick’s picture, which you will notice is still a bit wet, due to my impatience to get a picture taken!!! Sorry.

Life’s To Short For Housework!

I got a pack of DoCrafts Born to Shop glitter rub on transfer stickers a while back, usually they are not my sort of thing  but I thought they were a bit different and would be good for making a quick card.  I've used the sticker of a lady and her laundry basket and although the packet also contained the same phrase and a washing line, I remembered another embroidered washing line patch  I've had for ages and this was a chance to finally use it.

I always write on a card with trepidation, especially in this case when I had already applied the rub on, but it's turned out OK and I have managed to position my writing just right.

It’s a pity that the rub-on wasn’t repeated in the packet as I have another washing line and would have liked to have made another card the same, oh well.

Sorry about the pictures, they are a bit dark.

Little Button Bird Card

This card measures 10cm x 10cm and is made using white linen effect card.

How simple is this little bird? It’s not my own idea, I stumbled upon it while looking on Google, but I just love it.

It’s made using a button, a googly eye and a bit of doodling. The yellow would be OK to go with an Easter theme, but now I’ve made this first card I have a few other ideas I’d like to try.  I’ve left the card blank, but it would be easy to write something like “ A little bird told me….. ” across the top.

Docrafts Multiscoreboard Xtra – Xcut by Coppernob.

My friend Josie from Coppernob  has sent me one of her new scoreboards that have been added to docrafts’ Xcut range of products:-

http://www.coppernobcardcraft.co.uk/productDetail.php?product_id=181 

I have been using her original scoreboard almost every day for years and just couldn’t craft without it, so I was interested to see what her new board has to offer, especially as my old faithful is looking a bit crook! I wonder if I could put it in the dishwasher?

Where the original is very basic, Josie’s new board (which also comes with a scoring tool), will help you fold, score, measure, make boxes  and emboss. The integral rulers are a very welcome addition.

 

I’ve only ever used the original board  to score cards, I’ve never used it to make boxes.. I have to be honest,  the docraft instructions on the back of the packaging  are not brilliant, however after a bit of playing I have made a pretty passable wedge shaped box as well as a pillow box. 

These are very plain as they are my first efforts, but it wouldn’t take five minutes to add a few final touches to them to make them look more professional.

For more detailed instructions, Josie’s hints and tips page on her website is absolutely brilliant:-

http://www.coppernobcardcraft.co.uk/hintsandtips.php

Why not have a look and find out more?

My Home Bargains £1.99 Watch

This was an impulse buy on Sunday from Home Bargains for £1.99.  I picked it up and wondered what would happen if I covered the rectangular panels that made up the bracelet with Decopatch.  I risked not taking it to pieces as I thought the chances of my being able to put it back together again were slim!

My idea came together much easier than I thought it would. After sticking on  the Decoupatch I applied several coats of clean satin varnish.  I’m not sure how durable the new finish will be,  I suppose the proof is in the wearing, I’ll let you know ……

Taking these pictures was a nightmare with the glare on the varnish  and getting the light just right, but I hope you can get a gist of what the finished item looks like.

As a first experiment I am pretty pleased, but I could improve on the overall finish  …. and at £1.99 each  I am going to invest in a couple more, especially as they also had a black version on which I would like to try something a bit Art Nouveau/Art Deco …….

Embellished Mini Box of Elizabeth Shaw Mints

I was in Home Bargains yesterday and saw that they had mini boxes of Elizabeth Shaw mints, I think they cost about 49p and contain seven mints. I bought a couple as they are ideal for what my Mother In Law used to called a “fairing gift”,  something I could give as a small thank you gift especially with Easter coming up.

To make a template I drew round the base of the box and then added a little extra.

Using the template I cut a top and bottom from what I think is DCWV card. I then embellished the top with a flower made using my Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die.  The flower centre is part of a necklace from Primark that I had taken apart for the bits.

Framed Primark Roses …. But Which Is Best?

Do you remember these large rose bracelets I got in Primark a few weeks ago? They are very much on trend and roses like this are appearing everywhere. They remind me so much of my Gran.

….. Well,  I went into a local charity shop and found just what I was looking for to use them with, a deep set picture frame for just £1.95.  I removed the paper rose and background paper that were already in it, and started to play.

But now I can’t decide which idea I like best, so I’d better start scouring the charity shops again for another frame so I can make both.

I think the frame might benefit from a bit of shabby chic paint work, but I need to do some research on   how to do it, then when I’ve done that I’ll post the idea again, finished I hope.

Elephant Birthday Card

The brief was simple for this card …… elephants!

I used a Sizzix die that I have had for a while, cutting out four elephants on my BigShot .  I stuck them, using foam pads for extra dimension  onto a check background, which is actually green graph paper, to continue the squared effects.

I’ve added faux stitching, a bead eyes and a ribbon on the tails to complete the elephants.

The card is completed with a sentiment, broken into three parts using self adhesive letters and backed on red card.  If I were to make this card again, I don’t think I would put in the mouths, they seem a bit low to me.

A Touch of Embroidery

My embroidered badges never really took of when I made them.  I used my Bandai Badge It and scoured car boots and charity shops for old embroidered tray/table cloths to cut up and use for them.  But now I have noticed that Primark are selling fabric earrings and Assessorize put various badges on their some of their bags, so perhaps I am a bit ahead of the trend!!!!

I passed a lot to follower Marc who is doing very lovely things with them, so I am hoping he will send me a picture for the gallery very soon.

I did  keep one or two back and  decided to revisit them,  taking the pins off the back and using the body as an embellishment on a card, adding some flat backed gems.  I am quite pleased with the result and will probably now make a few more, especially with Mother’s Day in mind.

Silhouette Update

I got a reply from Silhouette, so last night I was able to use up all the remaining credit I could have lost if I had not contacted them!  I have also learnt to read the small print!  But I wonder how many other people have been caught out like this if they haven’t renewed.  To be honest I struggled to find designs I liked to use my credit, which is why I won’t be renewing my subscription!

Thank you for your alert. We apologize for any confusion. According to your account, it appears that your subscription has now elapsed. The end date was 3/2/11. Please note that according to the subscription terms, subscription credits may only be used during the term of a current subscription. Please note further that if you were to opt to renew or sign up for a new subscription within 30-days of your previous subscription ending, any remaining unused credit would be re-activated and be usable on your account within that additional 30-day window from the end of the previous subscription.

In light of this misunderstanding in that you had not been aware of this policy, we have extended your subscription through the end of tomorrow (3/10/11) so that you may use any remaining credit you may wish to use.

The Silhouette Support Team

www.silhouetteamerica.com

Papermania Sunflowers Thank You Card

This card measures 14.5cm x 10.5 cm and is made using a white linen effect card.

I really ought make a lot more Thank You cards as they are something I always need!

I’ve used Papermania Signature Sunflower 3D border stickers on a background of  burnt orange coloured Bazzill paper (although, it looks pink in the picture above, goodness knows why).  The wording  is made using a self adhesive alphabet set, which is also, I think, from Papermania.

I’ve had a bit of a shock!  I’ve had a monthly subscription to download designs with Silhouette for two and a bit years now.  However of late I haven’t been that impressed by the designs so the money in my account had built up a bit.

I’ve had a couple of messages from Silhouette saying that my subscription was due for renewal and offering me a discount code for a further 10% of my downloads. However, I decided not to renew my subscription straightway, but to use the funds in my account over the next few months for any designs that caught my eye.

Imagine my horror when I logged on to find that I only had $0.08 in my account when I thought I had at the very least enough to cover $90 plus in downlads at $1.99 each.!  I am not at all pleased!  Where has my money gone?  I thought it would just carry over until it was all used up!

I have sent Silhouette an e-mail asking what the dickens is going on and will keep you up to date when I get a reply. If anyone has had anything similar happen to them could you let me know please.

Scalloped Squares

This isn’t a finished project, it’s something I made for a friend to put on a baby basket she was putting together.

I’ve used fairly small scalloped and plain square dies from two Nestabilities sets.  I don’t use my Nestabilities half as much as I should because the effect you can get from so little time and effort is brilliant.

I’ve stuck a plain square onto a scalloped one, and then added different sized/coloured letters from a Papermania self adhesive alphabet set. I have finished the squares off with faux stitching using a white gel pen and a flat backed gem flower on each letter.

If I had more time, I think I would have punched very small holes on each scallop part to give a lacy effect, but at the time, speed was of the essence!

Baby’s First Birthday – Newspaper Card

I made this for a friends little girl’s first birthday, there’s not a lot to it really.

The baby picture is done in three simple decoupage layers, with the hat and background embellished with Hero Arts micro hologram glitter and a leftover Paperchase sticker.

What’s In My Posh Sweetie Dish Today

This week while I am crafting, I will be mostly eating ……

….. limited edition Christmas M and M’s left over from the festive season and in danger of going stale, three chocolate rabbits that couldn’t be used in my Easter projects as the foil was ripped and two cream eggs which were too small for the pots I wanted to put them in! Nom, nom,nom!

Altered Drawers

Do you remember the little set of drawers I got from a carboot sale for 20p a while back?  Well I’ve finished “doing them up”

I spray painted them first and then covered them with My Mind’s Eye – Quite Contrary, Jack and Jill “Be happy” Gleeful Paper (what a mouthful!)  and several layers of Modge Podge Gloss Lustre.

The knobs were from a recent HobbyCraft sale and cost 29p for a set of 6.

Wish Stones

These are lovely flat stones that I have picked up on holiday, they measure between 1 – 2 ins at their widest.  I am not really sure what to do with them, but I know inspiration will come one day.  I thought they would make quirky place settings for the right sort of occasion or as I have done here, little message stones.

Washing Up Kebab????

This is a daft idea that was sparked by this ad for Fairy washing up liquid

It’s just a whole lot of washing up sponges etc. on a kebab skewer.. 

But, I think I’ve lost a little in the translation, so if I make any more, I will replace my wooden skewer for a metal one. I am also wondering whether I should present it more like the ad. with a paper plate and  plastic knife and fork on a little presentation board for more impact.  At the moment it seems a bit random!  I’ll get back to you when I have worked it out.

Daisy Card

This card measures 12.5cm x 12cm.

This card is ear marked for my Niece, Daisy!   I thought it would be fun to cover the card blank with the pretend grass they use on model railways (from Hobbycraft) and then add a circle of paper daisies.  Very simple, but I think she’ll love it!

A Perk of the Job!

One of the unexpected surprises to my blogging is when out of the blue, I am asked to review something.  It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, I get VERY excited!

Iain from http://newhollandpublishers.com/craft-and-hobbies.asp contacted me and asked if I would like to have a look at some of his craft books ….. how could I resist?

The first book I chose was Furoshiki by  Kumiko Nakayama-Geraerts (£7.99), something I had never heard of before, but the idea of wrapping gifts and other items with fabric and using a few simple knots sounded so brilliant and different. The ideas are pretty easy.  I particularly liked the ball bag idea, which I’ve had a little play with using an old Liberty hankie, perhaps it needs a little tweaking, but  this could be the answer to my prayers when trying to wrap something awkward.

I like the idea that you could wrap a present in a very unique way, and that the wrapping can also be part of the present, like pashmina. 

I will certainly be looking in the charity shops now for squares of interesting material, retro head scarves, old embroidered table clothes, shawls, etc. When you think that some wrapping paper can cost over £2 a sheet …. it’s a no brainer!

Also, in the book are examples of wrapping a bouquet of flowers, a bottle, a potted flower and a shoulder bag.  This is definitely a book I will be going back to for ideas.

The next book Rediscovered Treasures by Ellen Dyrop and Hanna Kristindottir (£9.99), is very much my thing. As I read it I ohhhed ahhhhed aloud. So many ideas …. so little time, using items that can be found at car boot sales and charity shops etc.  My very, very favourite idea was cupcakes in a cup.

You simply bake your cupcakes in a paper case, then pop it into a cup when cool, then ice and decorate …..how cute is that?

I loved this purse idea, made from an old embroidered cloth, something I am always looking for and buying.

And this is such a lovely idea, using a child’s pinafore as a peg holder.  I might attach it to a slightly more decorative hanger, but what a lovely idea to give to Granny for Mother’s Day when clothes are outgrown?

And finally, Street-Chic Jewellery by Susie Johns (£14.99), I dabble with making bits of jewellery and try to keep things pretty simple but quirky, and there are some brilliant ideas in this book.

 

These are three of my favourite ideas, which could be mounted and added to the front of a card.

 

There are lots of ideas, including making paper beads and beadwork to suit a variety of expertise.  Again a book I will be delving in at regular intervals.

There are many other lovely craft books at http://newhollandpublishers.com/default.asp some of which I have earmarked like …..

Iain has offered a discount of 20% plus free P&P. (Free P&P for UK Residents only) to readers on each of the books I have reviewed (Furoshiki, Rediscovered Treasures and Street Chic Jewellery), just use the code Fiddle at the checkout. The offer ends 1^st September 2011 – how brilliant is that?