Doodled New Home Card

This card measures 12.5cm x 12.5 cm.

Drawing isn’t really my thing, I’m too critical, but now and again I like to doodle.  I’ve doodled the house and roof separately and then stuck them onto the card  with foam pads to add a bit of dimension.  There is a double thickness pad on the roof so that it stands slightly proud from the house. 

I’ve added a small brass key charm to add a finishing touch.

Lili of The Valley School Girls Cards

Both these cards measure 14.5cm x 11cm and are made using white linen effect card.

How sweet is this stamp? I don’t normally go for the cutesy or doe eyed but I couldn’t resist this stamp from Lili Of The Valley.

I’ve kept everything very simple as I am not a very good stamper, It might look a bit better with a few added paper flowers, pins and strategically placed fancy lace, but I’d just end up over egging the pudding, my only concession was a dot of Ranger Glossy Accents on the school badges and a tiny gem on the shoes.

Inspiration from Carole ….. And A Win, Win Situation!

I just love it when readers of this blog take the time to e-mail me, and this weekend I was thrilled when Carole wrote to me about my Cath Kidston badges …. and we have now brokered a very good deal with which we will both be very happy!!!  ….. Carole is going to swop me one of these beautiful CK fabric brooches for some of my badges …. how brilliant is that?  Carole is also going to send me some of her CK scraps to see if I can successfully make some fabric covered buttons (badges without the pins) to see how they work on her brooches. How exciting!!

To look at Carole's work and blog :- http://primnraggedy.blogspot.com/

Vest Bags

I came across this idea while blog hopping and just had to have a go.

I got the vests from Primark for £2 each and all I have done is sew across the bottom of them (a couple of times) in less than two minutes flat! How brilliant is that? I love the site (see link below) and there are lots of other bag ideas I would also like to try.

The size/capacity of the bag depends on the size of the vest, for these I’ve used size 8s, which stretch pretty well.  But, there are so many possible variations, depending on the size of the vest and the desired length.  For an example a larger vest would make a brilliant beach bag.

I am now on the look out for string vests ……. a white one would be my first choice and then perhaps a couple of coloured ones, red and/or black?

Plus vests with pictures on the front or beaded embellishment etc …… Of course, the vests don’t need to be new and could be found in charity shops or carboots.  This could be a project I will come back to, with variations over the summer.  But if, as I plan to, want to make a few for Christmas presents, I had better buy the vests now while they are available in abundance …….

For more ideas:- http://www.threadbanger.com/post/8219/weekly-diy-roundup-reusable-shopping-bags

My Apologies – More Blogger Problems!

Aghhhhhh, seems that I have just got over the disappearing picture problem when Blogger and Blogger Blogs have had even more problems, this time being off air for over 30 hours and daily posts due in that time not published!  As I have also been away for the weekend I was powerless to do anything about it …. so I apologise for the days that there were no posts ….. and I have rescheduled them for the next few days so you don't miss anything!!!. Aghhh

Flowers and Butterflies Card

This card measures 5ins x 5ins and is made using an ivory linen effect card.

Another less is more card today ….. I’ve used   of which  little wooden butterfly embellishments,  which come from a pack from Craft for Celebrations, (C2016),  8 birds and 8 butterflies  for £1.49, available from Hobbycraft. 

The layered flowers are made by using two different sizes of daisy punches. The finishing touches  the butterflies and flowers is made with a tiny flat backed pearls.

docrafts Royal Wedding Card

In case you’re interested and I haven’t droned on too much, docrafts have announced the winners of the Royal Wedding Card Challenge.

http://www.docrafts.com/article/RoyalWeddingCardCompetitionWinners/AID664

Primark Bag – Monsoon Test

I got a small piece of material and drew a couple patches using the felt pens I used ….. and yes, the colours ran to high heaven, as I had expected, but that was a full on, soaking comparable to a monsoon!  So, not a bag for the Wolverhampton rainy season or for putting my wet swimming trunks in …… just a bit of fun ….. but next time, ….. though the colours are not usually as pretty, I would use proper fabric pens!

Little Bird Card

This card measures 5ins x 5ins and is made using an ivory linen effect card.

 

A very less is more card today ….. I’ve used a stamp from the StampinUp Fresh Cuts set (111 634 - £18.89), the proportions of which are perfect for the little wooden bird embellishment,  which comes from a pack from Craft for Celebrations, (C2016),  8 birds and 8 butterflies  for £1.49, available from Hobbycraft. 

The card is finished with a few small flat backed pearls amongst the leaves and a tiny clear gem for the birds eye.

Popcorn Favour Boxes

A friend asked me to make some little gift boxes for her daughters 16th birthday sleepover, she quite liked the thought of a popcorn box, but also loved the Martha Stewart Monarch Butterfly punchies she had seen me use on another project.

I’ve used my Sizzix Bigz XL Takeout Box  Cat. No. 655420, for the project, which couldn’t be easier to put together.

I’ve printed the card using a free striped digi download design from http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/

I printed off five sets of the girls names, and cut them out using the smallest Nestabilities Label No. 4 I had, then layered them on red card.  To make the boxes individual and an extra special memento of the party, I put one girls name on the top of the box, and then added the other four friends names round the sides (I hope that makes sense).

The boxes are finished off with a Martha Stewart butterfly on the top and one of the sides. Done and dusted!

I'm The Second Runner Up - Does That Mean Third????

Oh my life ….. I was second runner up in the DoCrafts Royal Wedding Card Competition!!  I’ve just checked my e-mail and this was waiting for me in my inbox …….

CONGRATULATIONS

Your card has been unanimously voted the Second Runner Up in our Royal Wedding Card Competition!

We were really impressed by the incredibly high standard of cards that were uploaded to the gallery, most notably all those we shortlisted.

We would very much like to feature your card in the July edition of our Creativity magazine

We will be announcing the winner as well as the first and second runners up in the newsletter this week and will be including a feature page link from the 'News' section on the website homepage to also announce this.

Congratulations again and thank you so much for sharing your card with us and the docrafts community.

Warmest regards and have a lovely day

Nicci

Altered Marks and Spencer Bag

For this project I’ve used a large felt shopper from M & S, bought a while ago for about £4, felt flowers and leaves cut on my Big Shot using Tim Holtz Tattered Florals and Tattered Leaves dies and clear flat backed gems.

I’m not too sure about this. I wish I had restricted the colours a little more. I used almost every colour in my felt bag and once the first couple of flowers were stuck on there was no going back!  The bag is a bright fuchsia pink and a devil to match up, so by using a whole swash of colour I thought it wouldn’t be so noticeable that they didn’t actually match!

I’ve used a mixture of glue gun, pva and Bostick to stick everything in place.  I have a feeling this (like my Primark bag on Monday) may only be a fair weather bag …. I’m not sure how it would stand up to the rigours of rain and hail stones ….. and I think I will only  do “gentile lady type shopping’ with it, and not the spuds, savoy cabbage and washing powder variety!

Beaded Tealight Holder

I have had a spray can of Plasti-kote glass frosting in my craftroom cupboard for at least two years now …. another victim of one my many unfulfilled ideas …. until now!

I got a smallish mint sauce jar and stuck self adhesive stars all over it before giving it two coats of the frosting with my fingers firmly crossed, that it worked, it did!  I peeled off the stars very carefully and was thrilled with the results.

Don’t ask me how I made the beaded hanger …. wire and wire tools are a mystery to me, but somehow I did it with lots of wire twisting!! Not perfect I know, but it’ll do me.

I Just Love This ….

I just love finding quirky bits and pieces for my Craft Room.  I found it in my local florist costing £5.99 and before I knew it, it was in my bag …. they also had versions with 3 and 6 bottles ……. please …..someone hold me back!

Altered Primark Bag

This is undoubtedly my finest “too much time on your hands” project. Who in their right minds, other than me, would colour in this bag while watching Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday night??!!!

Primark have quite a few nice shopper type bag designs at the moment, priced at £1.50 each, I just wish they didn’t have Primark printed down the sides! As soon as I saw this lace effect print bag I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.

I’ve only used ordinary Stampin’ Up pens to colour it in (both sides, yes I am quite mad!), so I think it will only be a fair weather bag, however if it did get wet and the colours ran, I think it could take on a different and probably more interesting effect. The gems are stuck on with fabric glue but to be honest I am sure a few will drop off when I use it.

 

…… But at £1.50, it’s just a bit of fun and it kept me out of trouble!!!

I'm going to do a sample swatch and soak it to see if the colours run and will then let you know the results  .... I don't want to be responsible for spoilt bags all over the country!!

Crafty Individuals Stamped Tree Card

This card measures 14.5cms x 11cms and is made using white linen effect card and Crafty Individuals Stamp C1-280

I have visited the uncomfortable realms (for me) of stamping  to make this card.  The stamp is from Craft Individuals and I just couldn’t resist it, every time I look at it I see something new, it’s so quirky, and could be used for so many people and occasions. It’s also very me, and I would love to get a card like this.

I’ve kept everything really, really simple, all I’ve added is a tiny flat backed red heart and some other tiny red gems in the centre of the flowers and in the cocktail glasses, plus a few gold coloured gems in the (sun) flower at the top. It was a devil to get the image printed just right, but worth it in the end.

Very Plain Card

This card is SO plain and simple.  It is A5 in size and made using an ivory linen effect card.  It’s hard to see the colours clearly  but the centre panel is a wine coloured leather effect card mat and layered on gold mirror card.  The font used is Parisian BT size 48 and finally the ribbon is from East of India. Simples!

Knitted Dishcloths

Remember the 4 balls of craft cotton I got for £2.50 from a carboot the other week?  Well, I’ve managed to knit 10 dishcloths out of them with about 12 inches of yarn left! 

I cast on 25 stitches on (old size) 4 needles, and knit 26 rows.  Each cloth measures  20cms x 20cms and took me about an hour to knit. They really are brilliant to use and I am hoping that they last a lot longer that “bought” cloths. 

 

I did sew in one of my knitting labels on one, but that’s a bit “precious”!

Instead I have made double sides tags on printable matte canvas and can’t believe how professional they look.  It’s the first time I’ve used the canvas in my printer and it’s brilliant! I’m dead chuffed with myself.

Apparently this is a big thing in the US and there are whole sites dedicated to dishcloth patterns like http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/dishcloths.php

As my sister is oft to say …. “You have far too much time on your hands!”

Exciting News – Do Crafts Royal Wedding Card Competition

I had an e-mail yesterday ….. it said
“CONGRATULATIONS....

Your Royal Wedding Card has been shortlisted in our search for an overall winner!

From all the entries we’ve received, we have selected just a small handful of those that will go through to the final judging stage where the winning card, that will be featured both on our website and in a future issue of Creativity Magazine, will be selected.”

I very rarely enter competitions or challenges so you can imagine how excited I am!

Wedding Card

 

Making cards to order can be a bit scary because some people have a very clear idea of what they want when they ask me.

The lady who wanted this card was very exact, she knew what she wanted written on the front and on both sides of the insert …..

The bride and groom is a download from Quickutz Silhouette, but  I shortened the arms and intertwined them to fit the card blank better.

The flowers are made using a variety of punches with clear flat backed gems in the centre.

The font I have used on the front and inside is Papyrus.