Tiny Happy Birthday Book

I have had a set of three of these tiny 6cm x 6cm books for at least 5/6 years, if not longer, and it was high time they were used!!!!
So I hit upon putting a letter on each page to spell out “Happy Birthday” to make a little birthday book to give instead of a card. 

The books contain twelve sides in total, which meant that two pages had to double up on the letters, which then left on page at the back to add a birthday message.

I chose not to add any other embellishment on this one …… I could have added a few punched flowers, but I wasn’t sure, and I didn’t want to make the book too thick.

However, as I have two books left, I might try using a plain background paper and then add some flat stickers (if I can find where I have put them) of candles, cakes, balloons etc.

In it’s present state it is very me and less is more ….. but I can see how a little bit more, wouldn’t go amiss …… so watch this space for a second and possibly third attempt!

This Week………. Birthday Matchboxes

This week I have been mainly making birthday matchboxes using the Tim Holtz matchbox die cuts Marc sent me a while back with Paperchase stickers and Craftwork Card birthday sentiments.

They are a bit of a market research/experiment to see how they go in the staffroom at work ….. something a bit different from a card …..

If they go well, it will probably encourage me to make more for the craft markets/fayre  I can hopefully find and frequent in Evesham in the coming months.

Tom and Laura’s First Wedding Anniversary Card

This card measures 5ins x 5ins and is made using a hand cut white linen effect card blank.

Well, with Iris arriving just weeks before Tom and The Lovely Laura’s first wedding anniversary, it was a no brainer as to what I would put on their card!

The buttons date back to the days of Alan and Barry on Create and Craft, when they used to sell huge bags of mixed buttons (wish you could still get them, I had so many cards using them)

Printed Fimo House Embellishments

As you know I am not the best or most patient of stampers, but instead of stamping onto card, I wondered if I could stamp on Fimo to make my own embellishments.
So I found out some Stampin’Up house stamps that I must have had for at least 5 years and never even opened …..
…… and used a black Stazon ink pad to stamp them onto freshly rolled out white fimo……..

……. which I then cut out with a craft blade …. the roofs and house are separate stamps, but the fimo stuck together easily to create a complete house.

The houses “cooked” a dream, if not a little pongy, which was probably the ink cooking and if the colour of the fimo changed that was due to my leaving them a little too long in the oven …. but it didn’t hurt the finished effect!!!

Now, all I need is a project to use them on ….. I am think either a new home tag or card, or both or perhaps a New Home Matchbox!

Ikea Pencil Coasters

I know I am terrible, but I just cannot resist taking the odd handful (or two) of those small pencils they have everywhere in Ikea! But what on earth do I do with them when I get them home? There are only so many pencils you can write/draw with!!!

So I challenged myself, and came up with these coasters!!!

I am under no illusions that they will very last long, they are just a bit of fun.  I simply glued them together using a cement type glue, perhaps if I did them again I would use E6000, which I think would make them stronger.

I suppose a couple of coats of varnish would also strengthen them and make them more wipable …….

……. and they can be used either side up either showing the plain or printed side.

I am now thinking, that they might also look quite good stuck round a desk pencil pot (dare I return to Ikea?) ….. however a set of short Poundshop coloured pencils could look equally as good ……. hmmmmmm

Just found out someone has already had that idea!! http://gadgetsin.com/diy-your-own-pencil-holder.htm

Collier Campbell / Ikea Storage Drawers

This set of Ikea drawers was fixed to a wall in the garage, the Duke had used it to keep his fishing bits and pieces in it, but it was now empty and it seemed such a shame not to be used, so I decided to rescue it with the help of a gentleman with a drill!

I needed somewhere to put all my tealights and small candles and this was an obvious choice.

I decided that I would cover it with Collier Campbell Flower Patch wrapping paper as I wanted something really bright for my newly decorated utility room.

I outlined the edges in red Promarker pen and then simply covered the front of each drawer with the paper.

….. followed by layer after layer of quick drying clear varnish, goodness knows how many!!!

Et volia ….. sitting underneath one of my mirrors!

Sorry You’re Leaving Card

This card is A5 in size made using a hand cut blank in white linen effect card.
I made this card for the Head of Maths at school who left at Christmas.  I used graph paper with red and silver card to mat and layer, and then went mad with  some of the thousands of self adhesive numbers and letters I have collected over the years, and then filled in the smaller gaps with doodled Maths symbols.

I think I really need to make more cards in this style in the coming year perhaps on a more general theme. I have sooooooooo many letters, and they need using up …. the combination of wording might take a little thinking about …… e’e. a’s and y’s always seem to get used first and I never have enough y’s ……

The PE Lady’s Easter Chicks

The PE Lady has been knitting her Easter Chicks again which each conceal a Cabury’s cream egg.  The colours make them soooooooooo sweet!  I just can’t pick a favourite!
All of these are destined for Marc, as he has a BIG thing for knitted novelties, ….. I am not sure I could let them go if I was him!

Easter Bunny Bags

As I said the other day,  I am not planning to make a great deal for Easter, but I think my “penny bags” are always appreciated at work as I am careful what I put in them and they are good value for money!

I kept the tags very, very simple, using a blue gingham and pale green card, yellow ribbon (left over from Tom and the Lovely Laura’s wedding), and punched sunshines.

I also finally managed to use up all the wooden Paperchase bunny’s I got at a much reduced price either last year or the year before, so they owe me nothing and another bit of my stash bites the dust!!!!