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

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.