Iris’s Improvised Ball Pool

Iris did have a very lovely inflatable ball pool, but it was strongly suspected that Jupiter the cat may have given it a slow puncture with one of his paws, and so the ball pool was no more! But over Christmas, with so many boxes around Laura hit upon the idea of making a new pool, by cutting the front off a shallow box.  I then took over, and securely taped all the corner flaps down on the inside of the box, and then going round the outside and cut edges for good measure.

If Andy had been there I know he would have found some of that foam, pipe lagging stuff to go round the top edges too.  We then put a soft touch blanket to line the inside and cover the sides and a support pillow to fill one corner and two sides to support Iris ……et voila, a new, improvised ball pool!

*Only to be used under strict supervision.

POSTS EVER OTHER DAY ……

Just to give you the heads up that Fiddle Fart posts will be every other day for a little while …… but with perhaps the odd, occasional extra post thrown in here and there. My life is about to take another turn …. let’s just say, that on Tuesday (yesterday) I handed in my notice at work ….. and I feel ten ton lighter and look a million times younger already,  though still prone to slight exaggeration! 

Pendant Tray Monkey Keyrings

I have been experimenting with the inch pendant trays and keyrings that I treated myself to just before Christmas. 

They came from Etsy via China and cost me £13.72 for 50 antique effect silver trays which work out at roughly 27p each.  I had bought them initially with the intention of making Christmas Tree decorations and key chains.

With that in mind I will be going through all my stacks take-away boxes looking for suitable embellishments etc. that will fit into a one inch square, and these four Dress It Up monkey buttons (sent to me from Dianne my special friend in Florida) were just perfect. 

I cut an inch square of paper, faux stitched it round the edges and glued it into the bottom of a tray.  I then cut the shank off the button and glued it in the prepared tray, using E6000 glue, which is really strong and I know once cured will not budge. 

When the button was set in position and a silver peel-off added to two of the corners, I added “Aleene’s Jewelry Pendant Gel”, to the pendant. This was the first time I have used this product and was curious to see if it was an equal substitute to Glossy Accents or Anita’s 3D Clear Gloss Finish, I have used previously, which indeed it proved to be, setting in approx 4 – 5 hours, however to give the pendant a deep and full look I added a second layer, as one looked a little flat. I also painted a little on the monkeys face to give it glossy, slightly enamelled look.

I am really pleased with the results,  I might have to wait an extra two or three weeks when I order from various companies in China, but as I have learnt from past experience if I buy in bulk, I end up paying at least half of what I would pay in UK for the same thing.

Birthday Matchbox Favour

For Christmas I gave Marc the Tim Holtz Matchbox Die (for more information:-http://www.sizzix.com/product/659447/sizzix-movers-shapers-l-die-matchbox), as we have loved using my Stampin’Up one over the past few years.  However, when made up, Marc found that the Tim Holtz box is quite a bit smaller than the finished Stampin’Up matchbox. The tray was considerably shallower, still ideal for Marc’s earrings and other bits of jewellery, but not so good for putting sweets in, like my Christmas matchboxes where I was able to fit two Lindtt teddies in perfectly.

But having not seen the box “in person” as it were, I was curious and got Marc to send me a few of the die cuts so that I could play ….. which got me wondering as to the possibility of making a birthday matchbox to perhaps give instead of a card.

After making up a box tray I decided to marry up a pack of Paperchase stickers (Birthday Bunting Stickers £1) to the matchbox, as they seemed to be in just the right proportion for my idea…….

…… and created a bottom for the box using a 6cm x 4cm scrap of card, which I mounted on three layers of foam tape so it stood slightly away from of the base when I stuck it in.

I then decorated the sleeve of the matchbox using matching scraps of paper, two Craftwork Card circle sentiments, gold corner and strip peel offs, and scallop and plain circle punches to mat and layer the sentiment circles.

It was then when I put the matchbox together that I realised my error …… doh…

…. the sentiment circle was facing the wrong direction, but it was an error that could easily put right! (as in first picture).

I am now on the look out for wrapped chocolates that will fit neatly into these boxes, Cadbury miniatures would be perfect (but hard to find other than online), and I have found that one mint crisp will fit (but not two!) ….. which is probably enough when put with a sprinkle of birthday confetti.  I have an idea that for a little while I will be wandering round town with a box in my bag looking other chocolates that might be a perfect fit ….. and in doing so getting a few suspicious looks in the process no doubt !!

If you don’t have a matchbox die, there are plenty of simple templates on the net and if you have a Silhouette there are downloads available there too.

Cow Cards

These cards measure 6ins x 6ins.

Marc nearly took these wooden cow embellishment back with him after his visit for “his girls” to craft with. I’d tried in the past to do something with them but nothing looked quite right ….. and so after they’d been lying unused for at least four/five years I thought it was time to pass them on ….. but then Marc said …. “Nooooooooo,  you could make a “sorry for being a cow cards” and that got me thinking all over again!

So, first of all I dressed the cows up, adding googly eyes, tiny flat backed gems and flowers, eyelashes and rouged cheeks, plus arms and hands (using a leather thread and black wooden beads), and a handbag.

I then sat and googled “cow cards” to see what sort of sentiments I could write on the front of the cards …… I couldn’t believe how many there were …… so I must have a different one for each cow.

Putting the card together the was a doddle, all I had to do was to glue the cow to a card blank with a little doodling, and then the sentiment ….. simples, and I am afraid Marc’s ladies loss!

Fluffy Snowman Bauble

Just as I predicted the Christmas sales are throwing up one or two little things that have inspired me for Christmas future, and so I put up no resistance.  Wilkos started to reduce their Christmas stuff by 50% a week before Christmas.  Last year their range was inspired, but this year it was not so hot.  I kept popping in and although I liked some bits and pieces, not enough to fork out full price for them …..

And so that’s how two boxes of six snowball baubles slipped into my basket, reduced from £2.50 to £1.25 ……. as I immediately knew they would be perfect for snowman baubles, much more realistic than the one I blogged earlier.

To make sure the eyes, nose (made from Fimo then baked) and mouth stuck I had to trimmed away a little of the fluff …… I then used E6000 glue to make sure everything stuck securely (and didn’t dissolve the polystyrene under the fluff as I had feared it might).

Perfect!  I used tiny black buttons for the eyes on this “trial” run, but I think for the eleven others I will use the same black flat backed gems as I used on the mouth instead.

I also availed myself of two felt sock Advent Calendars (£2.50 reduced from £5), perhaps not to craft with, although I can see the potential for a little more bling on those pegs and perhaps a button or two on the zig zag sewing  ……

…… plus a box of nine wooden houses (£3.50 reduced to £1.75)
…… which may also have the potential for a little glittering and a few tiny flat backed gems before being used as gift tags perhaps.  So watch this space!

Car Gift Tags

I can’t pretend that this was my all my idea, I took it from a novel way of gift wrapping from http://www.linesacross.com/2012/12/interactive-gift-wrap-for-kids.html and fiddle farted with it to make really cheap and different gift tags.

The cars came from, where else but Poundland …. and at 10p each where else could you buy an tag embellishment for that? The cars measure approx. 1.25ins x .50in.

I’ve used quite heavy Kraft card for the tag bases that measure 4.75ins x 2ins. and then added a strip of black for the road, using a white gel pen to add the road markings. 

I then used my Crop-o-dile to set a gold eyelelet, and a black cord with matching pony bead as the tie.

The car needed to be attached to the tag with a good strong glue, so I decided that I my glue gun would be the best answer.

And that’s all there is to them. Something a bit different to put on a mans present perhaps (but not suitable for small children)

So pleased am I with the result that I will now be scouring the Poundshops of Wolverhampton for similar small toys that can also be used on other tags for other occasions  ….. perhaps a tiny tea set for a Thank You for tea tag?????

Snowman Pendant Tray Christmas Tree Decorations

Can’t believe how into Christmas I am, but I am hoping to do a couple of craft fayres (something I have never done) in November/December of this year, and I want to build up a stock very slowly and without last minute panic making.
So I took a one inch pendant tray and lined it with a scrap of Christmas patterned paper.

And then made the snowman heads, using orange and white Fimo. Before baking I attached the noses slightly sideways and prayed they would stick firmly together, they did.  When cool I glued tiny, round, black stickers for the eyes and mouths.  I could have used black Fimo, but one black smudge and the white Fimo would be ruined, and I am not the neatest worker.

Using a head as a size guide I added snowman's shoulders to the tray, and then red scarves using scraps of card (sorry no pictures, I was concentrating so hard, I forgot)

With the scarves in place I added the finished heads gluing them with E6000 glue as once set they would be unlikely to budge. I also added a few tiny gold stars in the background.

When the E6000 was set I filled the trays with two layers of  Aleene’s Jewellery Pendant Gel (letting the first layer set first), the second layer filled the tray to the top and added extra depth.  I also painted the snowman's face with the gel to add a glazed look to it.

The final touch was adding the gingham ribbon to hang the decoration, but I am a little undecided, I am not sure about the bow ….. I am a huge advocate of less is more, but if I were to put these on a craft stall do the bows add a little something else????

Guest Crafter–The Equally Lovely Denise.

New Years Resolution No.1,678 …….. I must try and use my Silhouette at least once a month, because The Equally Lovely Denise is putting me to shame as she has well and truly mastered print and cut ……..
…… as you can see from these lovely boxes and bags she made The Boyz for Christmas ……
…… where I have to confess, the last time I cut anything on my Silhouette was for Tom and The Lovely Laura’s wedding ……. hangs head in shame!

Marc also shames me because every week he texts to remind me to download the weekly free shape ……. so, I think I will start very simply again and try and build up my enthusiasm.  I think it’s because I spend so much on the computer every day, that I prefer chilling when I get home with something I find easy rather than the thought of fiddle farting and risk getting frustrated if things don’t cut out exactly to plan.

And then when it come to knitting and crocheting, Denise is the Grand Dame, as this key ring shows …… I just wouldn’t have a clue where to start, and just the thought makes my gums itch just looking at it, as do most things that are of a sewn, knitted or crocheted nature!!

Cup Cake Pendant Trays

Well, I thought I would start the New Year off with my current obsession, bottle caps and tray pendants.  As I write this, I await a delivery of 50 silver, 1in trays from China that I found on Etsy, if they are OK I will probably order more.

These took minutes to make, I cut a square of turquoise Bazzill paper to fit the bottom of the tray, and then simply added a Jolees dimensional cupcake embellishment, part of a pack that I bought from Michaels in Las Vegas. 

I have then added a good layer of Anita’s 3D, clear gloss finish, which make the whole think look almost enamelled.  I am thinking that these need to be either attached to a suitable keyring fitting  …… or on a ribbon, to give instead of a birthday card.

I also suspect that perhaps they are no longer producing the Anita’s in the 2oz bottle anymore, which has been a staple in my craft room for years, it seems to have been replaced by a smaller 25ml bottle, a great pity, so if I see any 2oz bottles I am buying them up!

However, as I plan to continue experimenting with pendant trays and bottle caps while I am all enthusiastic, I am looking at other alternative glossy finishes, and resins (another new departure for me).  So, I have a bottle of Aleene’s jewellery pendant gel on my shelf waiting to be tried out next and some Envirotex Jeweller's Grade Clear Epoxy Resin on it’s way.  I have an idea that working with resin will not be fast enough for me, but we shall see!

After I originally wrote this post I found these snake key ring blanks in a box ….. and married them to the pendant trays …… perfect!

What I Do With My Stuff

A couple of people have asked what I do with the things I make, well usually I keep them for my own personal use, I get bored once I make about ten of something, my gums begin to itch and I want to move on to the next idea whirling in my head, so what you see in the pictures is usually all I make of a project!  I just make for pleasure and to share, rather than for gain.

This Halloween and Christmas, for the first time in a few years I did put a box of bits and pieces in the staff room, but again, a run of any one item is usually limited to no more than twenty.

Having said that, I am considering, perhaps, having a table at a couple of craft fayres next Christmas and maybe in the summer taking a few of my bits and pieces into touristy type gift shops ……. a bit of a hint there, but more of my future plans in the next month or so …… when things are a little more concrete!!!!!!!!!!!

Mini Pencil Gift Tags

These gift tags measure 3ins x 2ins

I wanted to use up a box of mini pencil crayons I originally bought in Paperchase years ago that were now getting on my nerves because they had been in my drawer for sooooooooo too long ….. and I wanted rid of them!!

So I took them, a pack of ready made tags, some graph paper, some small alphabet letters, some stars and a glue gun to stick down the pencils ……..

……. and this is what I came up with!  Another bit of stash hits the dust!!!

Snowman Christmas Tree Bauble

Following on from yesterday …….. and what to do with the rest of a  box of 48, red, green, white and silver baubles once you’d taken all the green ones out to make Ninja Turtles ……..

Well, you can make snowmen faces with the white ones (another idea found on Google)

I used black flat backed gems to the eyes and mouth stuck on the E6000 glue, to make sure they don’t drop off …….

…… and then made a pile of carrot noses (using one I already had as a guide), from orange Fimo clay, which then had to be baked.

Once the Fimo had hardened, it was time to give Mr Snowman his nose, and that’s when I think he got his personality!  I used E6000 again to stick it on and then kept him in an upright position overnight until the glue took hold.

Ninja Turtle Christmas Tree Baubles

This is not my idea, I just copied it ……. my friend Sarah and I were Googling “Ninja Turtle Craft Ideas” just before Christmas and all of a sudden a Ninja Turtle baubles appeared on our screen and when Sarah saw them she was desperate for a set for her little boy Jacob for the Christmas Tree in his bedroom, and as I love Jacob (and Sarah) soooooo much, how could I deny them?????

But first I had to find some green baubles …… and have you ever looked purposefully for green baubles? OMG!!!!  Let’s just say that in the end Argos was my saviour, after I had scoured Wolverhampton from top to bottom.

I walked in to said Argos, and there was one very battered box on the shelf, but they were mine ….. £3.99 for 48 ….. for me the 12 green ones were worth that alone, but then I noticed that there were two broken ones (not green ones though) and when I ask if there were anymore the gentleman said they were the last box but said would I buy them if he knocked another pound off ……. erm … yes ….. £2.99????? Bargaintastic!!!

So baubles were impossibly easy to make, using a black Sharpie pen to draw the mouth, scraps of ribbon left over from Tom and Laura’s wedding, stuck on with double sided tape ….. and googly eyes.

Needless to say Jacob was thrilled and his Ninjas hung on his bedroom Christmas tree all over the holiday.

I have another eight green baubles left to make another two sets of Ninjas, but what do I do with the others? More tomorrow ………..