First Day Back At School Gift …..

As you know I like to make a little “fairing” gift for some of my friends at work to “bring in” the new school year ….

…. and this is what I have come up with for this year …. small jars of assorted chocolate buttons, Milky Bar, Cadbury and Thornton's smiley face ones The plastic jars came from a poundshop, but I can’t for the life of me think which one, but I would really like some more now that I have tried using them, and have other ideas …. and at just 12 for £1 they are a real bargain.

I cut the mop tops from some cotton patchwork material I have had for ages with pinking shears….

…. and then punched out and handwrote the tags ….. not much crafting I know …. just very quick and simple, less is more!

Tatty Teddy Decoupage Christmas Card

The base of this card measures 13.5cm x 13.5cm and is made using a white linen effect card.

This is another of my Tatty Teddy decoupage cards using the Winter Wonderland A4 glitter pack that I found for £1.74 (half price) earlier on in the year. I didn’t like the background to the decoupage image, so I cut it away and did my own thing!  I’ve added a pink gingham background (Handy Hippo Creative Paper Strips in pastel gingham), a punched white glitter heart and  a couple of punched snowflakes with gem centres. Voila!

Final Goodbyes To The Duke …. In Brixham

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift” - Mary Oliver

I didn’t say anything in the days leading up to it, but on Saturday,18th August we went to Brixham to scatter Andy’s ashes.  Originally the Brixham Lifeboat Crew were going to do it for us when they were next on manoeuvres, but in the end both Lucy and I had a change of mind, and wanted to do it ourselves. …. I know it sounds daft but we didn’t want to leave Andy/Dad/The Duke with strangers …. even though they would have been very, very lovely caring strangers, I know, deep in my heart that it was the right decision. We had to make several trips to the beach, a place which Andy had described, while fishing off the jetty last year  as, for him, the closest place to heaven on earth because it never quite quiet enough….. !

However, as the light faded we all said our final goodbyes and then skimmed stones ….. before leaving Andy where he was happiest …. a place where he could fish to his hearts content …… and gaze at the beautiful view.

We were able to make a donation of £1,025 in Andy’s memory from friends and family, towards the upkeep of the Brixham Lifeboat, something that would have really choked him. He would never fail to buy something from an RNLI shop/stand/stall whenever he saw one ….. as we can all contest, as we each have at least one RNLI keyring courtesy of Andy.

A wonderful gentleman called Stuart Elliman, the Lifeboat Operations Manager at Brixham gave us a guided tour of the Lifeboat and Lifeboat station, something Andy would also have just loved ….

…… it was such a privilege … and made our visit even more special and something that will stay with us for a very long while to come….

http://www.torbaylifeboat.co.uk/index.html 

Mini Pebble Canvas Mementoes

I wanted to give something to everyone who went to Brixham to remember the weekend by ….

… so I made these tiny heart canvases. which measure 7cms x 7cms, made using the small pebbles I had collected from the beach at Brixham where the Duke and I shared companionable happy silences as we drank in the view and enjoyed large cups of coffee when everyone else had gone home.

Colour Chart Christmas Tree Card

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

This card was an experiment, but is very me. I know just the person to send it to for Christmas who will appreciate it’s quirkiness too.

There’s not a lot to it, I’ve mat and layered a Dulux colour chart on silver mirror card and then stuck three glass Christmas tree nuggets  (which I’ve had forever)  to cover some of the writing using E600 glue.  Done and fairy dust dusted!!

Plain and Simple Christmas Card

This card measures 15cm x 10.5cm and is made from a hand cut blank using ivory linen effect card.

This card is very plain I know, but it’s just the sort of card I would like to get, very less is more!

The Making Memories eyelet phases, which need to be set using my Making Memories Instant Setter have been languishing in one of my drawers  for years since I bought a “job lot” of them at Hobbycrafts at the NEC, but this year I am determined that I will use each and every one of them, so you’ll probably get sick of seeing them this Christmas!!

The bookplate die cut is from a K & Co set which I have simply mat and layered on matching patterned paper and mirror card.

Tatty Teddy – Snowflakes Kisses Card

The base of this card measures 13.5cm x 13.5cm and is made using a dark blue linen effect card.

I don’t do a lot of decoupage, but when I do they are very popular. The image I have used here is part of the Winter Wonderland A4 glitter pack which I found for £1.74 (half price) earlier on in the year. All I have added is the tiny gingham print background, and a couple of punched snowflakes with gem centres plus a handwritten sentiment, as the ones in the pack didn’t match the blue I had chosen.

Christmas Snowflake Microscope Slide Decoration

This decoration follows on from yesterdays post, made in exactly the same way, with the same papers etc. but using microscope slides sent to me by Marc which measure 8cm x 2.5cm.

It is double sided so that there is no back or front view.

Memory Glass Christmas Tree Pendant/Ornament

Can you believe that I made this way back in February, what was I on? This first one was a bit of an experiment, it could have been a little better finished off, but to be honest it’s got just the right handmade feel to it that I wanted. I have made a whole pile of them since, and plan to give them to special friends on December 1st so that they have them to hang up for the whole of Christmas.

I’ve taken two 1.5 x 1.5ins Ranger Inkssentials Memory Glass slides between which I have sandwiched two squares, stuck back to back of Basic Grey Jack Frost Blitzen paper (BLI-337), so that the pendant has two identical slides. Before sticking the papers together I added a small flat bail between them so a thread can be attached to hang the finished decoration by. I then added a small strip of white glitter paper, a few tiny punched snowflakes and a handwritten “Let it Snow” label to complete a very simple snow scene.

The fiddly bit was sticking the silver ArtEmboss metal foil tape round the edges of the glass, but it wasn’t half as hard as I imagined.

The finishing touches were made using two metal snowflakes from Craft Candy, sticking them on either side, matching up their positions as best as I could. 

I also added a tiny silver stud in the centre of each punched snowflake on the outside of the glass, for a little  extra dimension and a clear gem on the large metal snowflake.

http://www.craftcellar.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d209_artemboss_metal_foil_tape.html

Framed Snowmen Tags

At last …. I have used up all the little wooden frames I have had for years, after foolishly buying in bulk. Originally they had a boat in the centre on  a wire and a sea shell, but I pulled them all apart and used all the boats, to be left with a pile of frames, aggghh.

I liked the snowmen for their naive style and as they were reduced to 72p for a pack of 8 last Christmas I snapped up a couple of packs at my local garden centre.

I’ve used a white gel pen to doodle patterns on the frame and made the background using scraps of pastel blue polka dot and white glitter paper, stuck on a Kraft card base.  When glued on and turned over I have handwritten the label, adding a bit of frou frou!

All that was left to do then was to drill a hole and add a tie. Done and festively dusted!

Christmas Kisses ….

Theses cards all measure 3.5 inches x 3.5 inches and are made using white linen effect card blanks

A couple of weeks ago I received the most wonderful parcel of Michaels goodies out of the blue from Lizzie.  She is a follower and had thought of me when she was recently in the US …. I was totally overwhelmed by her kindness, thought and generosity.  THANK YOU SO MUCH LIZZIE!  I have to admit my mojo is really not what it used to be and I am struggling ….. but your lovely gift has given me a gentle kick up the backside to think about getting going again.

Amongst all the amazing bits were these glittery self adhesive lips and were my very favourite …. …. as soon I I saw them I knew exactly what I was going to do with them!

The Christmas ones, on first appearance, may look simple …. but putting the writing in just the right position so the card looked balanced took several attempts!

Felt Heart Decorations

During the year I have been really sorting out the contents of my craft cupboards and drawers, trying to use as much stuff up as possible.  I must have had these sewn felt hearts for well over three years.

I bought several boxes of them from an Ikea sale and think I paid about 50p for a box of twelve, but never knew quite what to do with them when I got them home.

But, then I had an Ulrika moment when I “re-found”  these Prima “Say It In Studs” self adhesive jewel stickers.  As I had several packets of the same designs and colour ways I was able to put the same design on each side of the heart, and no sewing …. or messing with glue, they were all done in five minutes.

I also found some leftover bows for these four hearts, adding a flat backed gem in the centre.

As you know I don’t usually give cards to my work colleagues at Christmas,  preferring to give them a small decoration for their tree which will hopefully stay with them a lot longer than a card, and that is what I intend to do with these.

Meeting Marc …. In Real Life!

Well, you’ve probably guessed by now that I have been away for a few days in London, my main reason for going was to met Marc, who you all know from this blog, in “person” and in “real life”,  with the added bonus of a trip to the Olympics as a wonderful surprise from my sister, Jan.

Now, I don’t have a picture of me and Marc, so you’ll make do with a picture of me and Alistair Campbell instead, who I am afraid I accosted at Olympic Park!  He has been my “guilty” pin up pleasure for years … and when I saw him walk past, eating his Magnum, incognito, I knew that if I didn’t do something, I would always regret it, so I chased after him ….. what am I like?  All I can say is that I swooned like there was no tomorrow,  he was even more gorgeous in real life than his pictures and on TV  (and very tall and slim, and beautifully dressed) and he was also polite, lovely and kind ………. I am an even bigger "fan" now …. you can’t tell by the picture but I was just like a jelly!!!

…. Anyway back to Marc …..  we were both a little nervous about this first meeting even though we text, email and phone regularly ….. and it was so silly because as soon as I walked into the pub and saw him sat sitting there waiting, we instantly "loved" each other even more than we did before …. and for the rest of the day we never stopped talking crafts and monkey’s and laughing …..

After a cheeky shandy Marc took me on a guided tour of Portobello Road and in some of the vintage clothes shops … OMG, OMG, OMG!  There and then I was determined that the diet HAD to start that second (well, after our evening meal at least!) …. as I wanted ALL the clothes! Marc could look at all the stitching and bead work and say when and how they were made, there is nothing he doesn’t know about fashion and design …. but unfortunately for me vintage rarely comes in a large!! So I am now shedding the pounds with vengeance and then Marc and his friend Stephane (below, who is equally lovely and so fascinating to look at and listen to) are going to take me shopping for part of my vintage Las Vegas wardrobe …… a la Gok Wan.

While we were in one shop I spied an old school satchel but was a little apprehensive as to what they might want for it …. knowing that London prices can be a bit steep …. but when the girl said £6 and Marc beat her down to £5 it was mine …. Marc bought it for me …. what is he like?

The stitching was coming undone in places and I've since fiddled with it some more, as the picture shows, but, it’s nothing I can’t fix.  I was thrilled because I had been eyeing up satchels in all the shops but the prices were just silly for reproductions.  This is the real thing ….. it just needs a bit of TLC, and a good clean … I could alter it …. but it is, what it is ….. and after a little thought I think it should stay exactly as it was meant.

Marc also took me to see other shops that blew my mind, including a jewellery shop that was so crammed with over the top jewels that I must have sounded like a stuck record ….it was a shop stacked to the ceiling with objects of desire!
Then Marc took me Stephane’s home for a little light lunch …. I have always wanted to see inside one of those huge typical white London type houses ……

…. and again …. all I can say is OMG, I was so not disappointed  and then reflected on how very different it was from my own humble dwelling in Wolverhampton ….. it was like another world …. but a world I could very comfortably fit into!!!!!!! LOL …. but practically you have to think of all the housework …. I’d have to have a vacuum cleaner on each floor and would have to no longer be such a stranger to Mr Sheen!

Marc also gave me some lovely presents …..

He knows I have a thing about skulls (??) and thought this stunning pink and very heavy skull money box was very me …. we both think should be embellished with a copious amount of  flat backed gems …. so watch this space ….

There was a new mug and coaster for my desk at work, when I go back in September, filled quails eggs …. I’m not going to eat them …. they are too beautiful …. but have put them in a nest I already had in my craft room.

…. and a solar powered waving Queen …. which is now sitting on my kitchen windowsill…..waving ..... so funny!!!  What can I say?

We ended a perfect day with a wonderful meal in a lovely Italian restaurant, with Marc, Stephane and myself and then joined by Rick, Marc’s partner and my sister Jan, fresh from a shift as a Games Maker at the Olympic Park. 

On meeting The Boys:- Monkey, Darrell, Vinnie and Nigel for the first time Rick’s face lit up and he said that it was like meeting Bagpuss or someone from Poggles Wood! I know I keep saying it, but it really was a wonderful day, and I am afraid tears were shed when it was time to say goodbye …… I always knew how special Marc was …. but he’s even more special and precious to me now, as too are Rick and Stephane Life has been so sad of late …. and I have another hard weekend ahead of me soon, but life is for living ……and I know there will be many more happy visits to come.