Strawberry Laces

Inspired by the sweetie jar paper I used earlier this week, I thought I would have a doodle of my own on a similar line ….

So, I made the card and then …….

…… made a real sweetie jar to match!

Thanks From The Heart Card

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

I love the card (above) from follower Christine so much that it inspired me to make my own version .

Very plain and very simple.  The writing is my own and I’ve just added a single flat backed gem heart.  It’s given me a few ideas for other similar cards, especially for Christmas, when I don’t have too much time for fiddle fart!

What’s It Called? … And Tiny Tealights …

I bought a roll of thickish metal foil years ago (see pic below), and I have only got a little bit left and would like to buy some more as I have a couple of ideas for headbands/tiaras but don’t have a clue what it’s called or where to get any from  …. can anyone help me please?

Also thank you for all the suggestions for mini tea lights for my tiny jam jars …… I did think that if I got a few metal screw bottle tops, took the metal attachment and wick out of an ordinary tealight and then melted the wax to put into the bottle top ….. it might work ….. watch this space ….!

Kaffe Fassett - A Little Bit of Knitting

Today I thought I would show you that,  I can, when in the mood, knit something a bit more complicated than just    mug hugs and dishcloths!

I adore Kaffe Fassett and two of these three cardigans are based on one of his patterns.

I just want to stroke the pages of his books, I love the colours, the patterns and the textures of his designs.  I know I should knit more stuff like this, (though at the moment I am averaging one dishcloth a night)  but something like the cardi above takes an awful lot of concentration and counting, something that’s not very easy when I am watching The Apprentice.  There was a time before I started card making when I used to read knitting patterns books for bedtime reading!  This first cardi is following Kaffe’s pattern to the letter, but with my choice of colours..

When my children were small I used to knit them vintage patterns from the 40’s and 50’s, so they were always a bit different and recently I have been looking on e-bay for old patterns and have been thrilled with the ones I have bought.

Goodness only knows what I was on when I knit the second cardi (above). It’s using the basic Kaffe pattern but then I’ve gone my own sweet way.  There is no way any child would get lost wearing this little number!

This last cardi isn’t a Kaffe, but a basic pattern that I put my own stamp on re: the design. The bit I HATE most ….. sewing every single thread in…… aggghhhhh!

This is Kaffe’s Dining Room below , oh my life, I just want to touch everything.  I belong in a room like this!

..  And when I eventually give up blogging and crafting and have a bit more time, this is going to be my first project …..

Stunning!

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda!

A couple of weeks ago there were dandelion clocks everywhere and now I am full of regret, because, one I was too bone idle to go out and take any photos of them  and two, now that I am into making bottle charms I wish I had carefully collected a few heads to put a few of them…. oh well, next year!

Is There Such A Thing …..?

I have a whole box of mini jam jars (purloined from many hotel stays!), This morning I had an idea   …… I could make some mini lights for individual place settings for a party ….. BUT….. normal tea lights are too big …. and I wondered if you can get mini tea light type candles,  any ideas??

Candy/Sweetie Jar Cards

These cards all measure 5ins x 5 ins and are made using linen effect card.

As a person with a terrible sweet tooth, I saw this gift wrap in John Lewis and just had to have it … it’s designed by Emma Davis  and cost £1.75,(SHW89).

 

I have cut out individual jars and then laminated them (top tip, if laminating small cut outs keep them in place with a tiny bit of Pritt before putting them through the machine)

I’ve stuck them down with a foam pad to give them extra dimension on a black gingham background, thinking that then they would then be suitable for either sex, because although a lot of men say they don’t eat sweets, you watch them pinch a few from your packet when you have them!!!

 

As a final touch I’ve used Ranger Glossy accents on the jar labels again for extra dimension.

What’s On My Wrist Wednesday!

Look what I found in Claire’s while I was away at the seaside last weekend  and  looking for a little holiday treat for myself ….…I couldn’t resist, it was so me!

It’s a bracelet which cost £6.50. I stood in the shop counting the links like a numpty, and couldn’t believe there are 36.  For some reason the “Serenity and Honesty” are one link but all the other words are single. I think I am going to wear it for a little while, as I love jewellery with words on and then when I have worn it enough I’m going to disassemble it and use the words on cards and tags ….. watch this space……

Wish Bottle Charm

In amongst all the lovely treasure I received for Carly (see below) there were several little corked bottles.

I’ve wanted to make some bottle charm pendants for ages and couldn’t believe it when I saw that Claire’s Accessories are selling them at the moment, a bit plainer than this, but I am on the right track.

 

What I have shown today  is still very much at the experimental stage! 

I made a little scroll with “wish” written on it, before putting it in the bottle with some small gold stars. I have then used Ranger Glossy Accents to stick on some Suze Weinberg Beadazzels - Macarena, which I am not really sure about.  Then I added some brass dragonfly charms and various flat backed gems and pearls, followed by a small screw eye bail in the cork, with a brass lock and key charm attatched.  I might put a leather thong through the eye eventually, but at the moment I think I will keep it as it is.

I wanted the bottle to have an ethereal,  fairy type feel/look to it, but I’m not sure if I have quite achieved it this time.  The closeness of the pictures make it look a bit blobby, but as a first attempt it’ll do and I think I will give it to my mum for her birthday!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You ….

I have such lovely followers and this week I have been overwhelmed by their kindness …

On Tuesday I received a huge parcel from Carly containing all kinds of wonderful treasure …. I’m going to keep it all in the box, so it doesn’t get mixed up with all my other crafting stuff, giving me somewhere “magical” to delve into when I’m looking for inspiration or a “bit” to start/finish something off and then I’ll know exactly where it came from.  I hope I can thank Carly in the coming weeks and months by using some of her lovely gift in some of my projects.  THANK YOU SO MUCH Carly!

And then on Saturday morning …. this lovely card came with the postman from Christine….

……. with this lovely necklace ….

There is a tiny china bird in the cage …… how beautiful is that? ....And I have such a thing about birdcages!!  Thank you so much, it made me cry!

Producing two blogs on a daily basis is quite hard work, but it’s lovely things like this and all the wonderful comments that make it such a pleasure to do and keeps me thinking about the next idea……

Again THANK YOU xx

Tim Holtz Tattered Florals

Following on from yesterday, I decided to have a play with my Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die.  Last week I popped into The Range and bought some ivory hessian and gauze type fabric, with making flowers in mind …. but I am a bit disappointed, the pictures of what I have made show a bit of an experiment, which still needs a bit more fine tuning …..

This is my first effort, but it looks so flat …. it doesn’t pop, and I am not sure that just adding more layers will make it any better ….. plus, I know the centre brad is a bit pants and needs to be a bit fancier …..and my bit of staining using felt pen to add a bit of colour hasn’t helped much either …. but onwards and upwards ..

I decided to cut out another flower using the gingham that Carole sent me (see yesterday's post), it looks better, but …. I’m not keen on the blue staining now …. but we’re slowly getting there …. but rather than bin it, which was my first inclination and start again … I’ve stuck it on a hair clip ….

…… part of a pack I got from Poundworld (for £1!!!!!)

This was all very hit and miss …. but now I’ve made this first one I know where I’m going wrong …. I think I need to add another light,  floaty, flowery fabric to add colour between the original fabrics and a prettier brad ….  but any other suggestions will be gratefully accepted!

Cath Kidston Inspired Swap.

The other day I mentioned Carole and her beautiful brooches made using Cath Kidston fabrics, and how we had brokered a brilliant deal,  well, our swop is now complete, (as you can see here on Carole’s  blog http://primnraggedy.blogspot.com/ and here on my blog today) and I am now the proud owner of this exquisite “bauble”. 

 

The pictures just don’t do it justice. Until it arrived I didn’t realise the detail and work involved  from Carole’s pictures, but in real life it’s gorgeous and  I am thrilled. I know I should wear it …. but I would be frightened of losing it …. so I’ve got a small easel and made an background ……

And it’s now sitting on my craft room shelf to give me inspiration …..

Carole also sent me a piece of a small gingham print fabric to experiment covering badges with.

 

This isn’t really the effect I was going for, I wanted to put some very small felt flowers on in jewel colours, but,  believe it or not, I hadn’t got any small enough, felt won’t go through my punches and I only have big flower dies for my BigShot, so I’ve used a button for my first attempt, but next time I go shopping …. I know what I’ll be looking for.  Thank you Carole for so much inspiration.

Teddy Card

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

I’m having a bit of a purge trying to use all the small stickers I’ve had for ages and ages …. these are quite nice as they have a furry sort of texture

.

Like a lot of my stickers they are too small to use on a card singly but in a group of four they look ok!

Card for A Friend

This card measures 14.5 cm x 11cm and is made using a ribbed effect Kraft card. Sorry about the photograph , its a bit dark.

Very less is more today.  Like most crafters I have a box on my desk filled with little bits that are left over from other projects that have lost their packets etc., well yesterday I decided to have a delve and see if I could empty the box a little…..

….. And I found this little pewter plaque.  All I’ve done is thread a very narrow ribbon through it  and then mat and layer it on two labels made using Spellbinder dies on my Bigshot. Simples!

Objects of Desire

How brilliant would it be to have a real Swarovski crystal bead curtain across the door of my craft room ….?

This picture just doesn’t do justice to all it’s wonderful twinkliness …… perhaps one day …… !!
And I just love Thomas Sabo’s “Theatre of Love “ pendants