Dinosaur Nine Square Card

These cards measure 5ins x 5ins and are made using a white linen effect hand cut blank.

I think that I may have finally come to the end of my supply of puffy dinosaur stickers, although I think, somewhere, I still have  a few much larger 3D ones that also need using up.

I am not 100%, but I am pretty sure these stickers came from Accessorize.  I used to be such a fan of their stickers, but over time they have become more expensive, and no longer offer the value per pack as they used to for card making. I still look, but they would have to be exceptional for me to get my purse out. 

I’ve kept things simple, cutting the background squares from scraps of Bazzill card using my X-Cut 1in scalloped square punch. The squares were then  glued onto a 3in white panel mat and layered onto silver.

Although the stickers are self adhesive I sometimes find that it helps to put a touch of glue to the back of them to secure them a little more strongly.

Tim Holtz Inspired Charm Bracelet ….. Work In Progress.

Marc sent me Volume III of Tim Holtz’s A Compendium of Curiosities a while back. As you know I aspire to creating something as beautiful as Tim from one of his books/ideas,  but in my eyes I just can’t get things right …… to me they look like I have copied them ….. which I know I have, if you know what I mean, but they don’t feel/look like I “made” them!?????

…… but this picture of a selection of Tim’s charms inspired me to have another go!

I had an old antique effect bracelet and antique effect jump rings and boxes and boxes of bits ….. so I took two old, wooden bingo markers (the 58 being my year of birth and the 22 being the date) and drilled a hole through them using my electric modellers drill and then attached them to the bracelet using the jump rings.  I did exactly the same to the wooden scrabble piece (H for my name) and that’s where I have left it for now, as this will be a work in progress.

I am thinking, (which I should have done before I put them on the bracelet) of putting a small piece of small patterned paper on the back of all of them with some Glossy Accents and then adding another very small embellishment. I have a tiny compass that I think will be perfect, but am not planning the other charms too much, I want to find pieces when I am going through my boxes looking for something completely different and then see where it goes…….. so watch this space.

Mini 50th Birthday Card/Book

This mini book measures 6cms x 6cms.  It came in a pack of three, but so many years ago I forget who made them or how much I paid, sorry!

I featured a similar birthday card/book a week or so ago, but it was a bit of an experiment and very plain, as I said at the time ……

….. but now I have had another go for a friends 50th birthday.



Again, I took letters from the different sheets from my mahoooosive box of alphabets.
….. and then added Paperchase “Birthday Bunting” stickers (£1) ….
…… and other small plastic stickers that I have to add a little more “something”
….. perhaps a little samey, but the theme is there.

Frilly Faux Patchwork Cards

These cards measure 5ins x 5ins and are made using a white linen effect, hand cut card blank. 

The dimensional stickers on these cards came from K & Company many moons ago…….

…… I loved them, but they never seemed to go with anything, one on its own was never enough,  but now I am on my mission to downsize, they had to be used, and in the end I decided “oh… bung four together and see what happens”,  to make a patchwork, hoping, with fingers tightly crossed, that it wouldn’t be too much.

I think I got away with it, pulling it together by adding extra mat and layering using palest green, white and raspberry coloured card.  The centre panel measures 3ins square and then the larger one 4.25ins square.

It’s amazing how realistic the print is these stickers/embellishments, is, even I found myself running my fingers over them a couple of times to double check .

You Have to Kiss A Lot Of Frogs Card

This card measure 5ins x 5ins and are made using a white linen effect, hand cut card blank. 

I loved doing this card, it looks deceptively simple but sorting out the positioning and size of the writing (all my own fair hand) was a bit of a ****** and took several attempts!

I mixed the mediums, something I usually don’t like doing, but the metal frog embellishment and the 3D shiny plastic castle sticker (both in my stash box for years and years) really came together, I think it was because both had a glossy finish to them.  Just a bit of faux stitching and a flourish for the castle path finish the card!  However, looking at it with fresh eyes, if I were to do it again, I would add a tiny bit of translucent micro glitter along the path, just to add a little extra magic, and perhaps even a bit on the frogs trunks!

Father’s Day Card

This card is A5 in size and was made using a white linen effect, hand cut card blank.

A bit late now ….. as it’s after the event, but this is the card I made for my Father In Law for Father’s Day.

It all came together without too much planning, the word panels, for once, fitted the card without any undoing and re-trimming.  It was also an excuse to try and use up a just a few more self adhesive letters from  my huge box of alphabets. I am just going to keep on mixing and matching them on big cards until eventually all the vowels are gone and then, I guess, that’s when I will have to start cutting letters I have run out of out on my Silhouette, which as I always say …… I really should use more!!!

I also thought I would use my under used corrugated card to give the card a more rufty tufty feel, plus added depth and texture, which was then further mat and layered on brown card as I like an edge!

I don’t usually like mixing my mediums on a card like this, but on this occasion the foam tools worked,  which also meant that a half used packet of embellishments was finally used up …….

…… so bonus there!

Lollipop Card

This card measures 4ins x 6ins and is made using a white, linen effect hand cut card blank.

I am not at all sure about this card!!! I love the lolly embellishment, but it seems lost in a sea of unnecessary mat, layering and doodling!!! There has got to be a better way!

I fell in love with these lolly embellishments as soon as I saw them, umpteen million years ago, but despite getting them out an equal umpteen million times I just haven’t come up with an effective way to use them ……. so any suggestions much appreciated, all answers on a postcard please!!

Object Of Desire

…… it’s been ages since I have done an “Object of Desire” post, however, I have “sort of” been taking an interest in furniture of late, working out what my style is, and I guess, if I could,  I would like  to embrace my inner bohemian ……!!!

…… and be very, very bold!!!
So, when I saw this dressing table in the window of the Sue Ryder shop in Evesham it was love at first sight!!!

It was in a bit of a state …… and I understand it’s not everyone’s cup of tea ….. but it’s everything I have ever dreamed of in a dressing table!!

I just love the little cupboards and drawers on either side of the mirror …… but at £245 it was not exactly a bargain …..

Oh well, I have set the bar high for myself and I first, I really need a house to put it in …… and then, would I be brave enough to paint it fuchsia pink or turquoise ?????? I hope I would ……. but It’s good to dream anyway!!!

Wooden Heart Tags With A Charm

These white, wooden hearts with a very useful eyelet came from the wedding section of Hobbycraft, they cost £3.00 for a pack of 12 ……

…… but I managed to pay just  £2.25 when they  were in a sale, which works out at about 16p each.  http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/white-wooden-heart-with-eyelet/596019-1000

They are part of my stash that needs to be used up and I thought what could be any quicker to do than tags!!! I am always nervous when I handwrite straight on to something and these were no exception.  I used a black fine liner pen, but made sure I gave the ink ample time to dry before fiddling anymore with the heart.

I was just going to add the red ribbon, but got to thinking that I also have a pile of silver charms that need using up too, so added, in this instance a bee,  attaching it to the eyelet with a jump ring.  When I start my “conveyor belt” of tag making,  I will vary the type of charm and the ribbons, to give a variety of choice, when I come to sell them.

I’ve experimented a little with the packaging (the tags might get put away for a while and I didn’t want to risk them getting grubby) and decided to keep it very simple using a piece of dark blue card in a cello bag.

Iris’s First Birthday Card

This card is A5 in size and is made using a hand cut, white linen effect blank.

I can’t believe a year has passed and it was Iris’s first birthday yesterday, it’s like she has always been with us  …. and this, is the card I made her.

I can’t believe I used a whole packet of stickers on it ….. once I started I just couldn’t stop, but I think I got away with it in an over the top, first birthday type way!!!!

The stickers came from Tiger, my favourite shop when I go into Hammersmith, when I stay with Marc.  We are usually in there for an hour plus …. going over everything and discussing at great length a products possible crafting potential!! Anyway, as I am being very frugal these days, I only bought one pack, where in the past I would have bought at least 5 (usually more), spending just £1 ……

The glittered, self adhesive letters came from a Papermania Christmas range about three years back and match the gingham background pattern perfectly.  I’ve also added a very small gold/yellow gem at each end of the bird’s “banners”, for even more glitz and my usual faux stitching, doodling and scattered three dots to finish the design.  Happy Birthday Iris!

Summer Time Heads Up ……

If you are thinking about making small bags of sweets together for summer fayres etc. popping into Poundland might be a good idea as they have some nice “seaside” themed sweets.

If I was still at work, I would definitely be putting a “Happy Holidays” fairing together for the staff I worked with ……. might be an idea for the little ones to give to their teacher without breaking the bank …..

I would get them to draw or collage a seaside picture on one side of a postcard, with a “Happy Holiday” message on the back and then punch a hole in the corner, threading one or two of the dummies on a ribbon through the hole to attach to the card. Simples!

http://www.poundland.co.uk/food-and-drink/sweets-and-snacks/sweets-mints-and-gum

Dino Poop Party Favour Jars And A Makeshift Dinosaur Door Wreath

Following my post on Friday, about my 10,000BC/Dinosaur Leaving Party, I thought I would show you the favours I made for my guests as a little memento.I’ll be honest, I wanted to find a way to use up a box of jars I had gathered from various poundshops. All came in packs of four (£1), so at 25p a jar, they were/still are a bargain.

I will also admit that I made them in rather a rush, leaving everything to the last minute ……  I know I could have put them together a little more “professionally”, so, if I wanted to make them again to sell, I am going to add what I “coulda,woulda,shoulda” done in this post as well …….

Firstly, I filled the jars, trying to keep costa down with Tesco Everyday Value Midget Gems at 25p for 175g bag, from which I could fill one and half jars …… But, if I was making them to sell, I would fill them with something like Toffee Crisp or Twirl Bites, Chocolate Buttons or Carmel Nibbles (all Poundland) to make them look ….. erm, how shall I put it, more realistic!!!!!!

On top of each jar lid I glue gunned a small dinosaur …. some I got at the village Easter Fayre for pence and the others, came from The Entertainer, reduced to £1!  If I was doing them again, perhaps I would cut a circle of dolls house/model makers grass or some self adhesive Vivelle to add a little more “realism and detail” …. but this would be an added expense if you don’t have that sort of thing amongst your stash.

And lastly, I could have used my Stampin’Up punches to make the jar labels a little more elaborate …… but just for this occasion I made do with simply printing out “Dino Poop” and then punching out, before adding a quick dollop of glue to stick them on each side of the jar.

On my front door I simply added the dinosaurs that were left over to my twig wreath, which is also decorated, all the year around with two sets of Poundshop battery operated lights.

It did the job!!!!

How Very Remiss Of Me – Pictures Of My Leaving Party

I can’t believe that it’s just over four weeks since I left work ….. and do I miss it ….. well ….. erm …. in one word,  “no”!!!!!!

I left on a Friday and by the Monday it all seemed like a million miles away, it was hard even imagining my ever being there, it felt quite strange, but on my last day I remember thinking I just want to be gone ….

……. I didn’t even shed a tear, which only served to tell me that I really was doing right thing and with hindsight (what a wonderful thing), I should have done it in July last year as I had originally planned to do.

I do miss my circle of friends, and perhaps a little of the gossip, ….. but it wasn’t a happy place and I know other people have made the same decision.

But ……I had a party and forgot to share it with you …… so here they are.  The theme was 10,000BC and Dinosaurs …. why ….goodness only knows …… but everyone dressed up which made it soooooo hirarious!

I’ll let the pictures tell the story …..

…… but I feel I need to say that not one sip of alcohol was quaffed …..

……. all the hilarity was fuelled by great friendships … 

…… to spite adversity

….. as a relief from stress …..

…… and a mahooooosive sense of fun and mischief.

I have promised more parties when I am settled and in a routine …… so we can all catch up ….

….. but I think you can see from the pictures what a fabulous night it was and a perfect way to end one chapter in my life to start an exciting new one!!!!