Keepcalm-o-matic

A couple of people have asked about my “Keep Calm” posters ….. well there’s no big secret I just went to :- http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/ where you can design your own poster, to put on a cards, fridge magnets etc, how brilliant is that?

You simply add the words you want, decide what colours you want and tweak the font size if needed so it all fits in. 

When you are happy with your design just right click on your poster and it will save to your computer, it’ll have a mahoooosive long name, but you can change it something shorter

Have fun!

Two Beach/Seashore Cards

The larger of these cards measures 5ins x 5ins and the smaller 3.5ins x 3.5ins.

After I finished making the lighthouse cards (yesterday’s post) I was left with two oval 3D stickers that I wasn’t sure what to do with …. then, I remembered some plastic crabs I got on holiday last year and wondered if they would work well together. 

When I saw that they were in proportion I was on a roll …… using text paper from my Papermania A5 Bookprint pad as a background it was all starting to come together….. I just edged each square very roughly with a pale blue Promarker pen and then again with a black finer almost scribbling round the edges.

The final piece de resistance were the peel off corners (as you know, I usually have a great aversion to most peel offs!), but these looked just like silver seaweed …. and I was so thrilled with the overall effect, in fact I might not let the larger of these cards go!

Lighthouse Themed Cards

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

Dianne in Florida sent me a packet of 3D stickers containing, amongst others, the embellishments I have used on these cards. I love the seagulls and would buy them by the sack load if they sold them on their own, they would just add the finishing touch to so many scenic cards.

I’ve also used some text print from my Papermania A5 Bookprint paper pack. I’ve coloured the central panel in with a Promaker pen. As I am not too keen on stamping this paper is a dream come true for me, I get the printed effect I love but without all the fiddle fart with ink etc.!

MyScriptFont.com

No crafts today, but I thought I would show you how I “make” my own fonts, it’s so easy, it’s untrue, but with your own font you can make so many projects so much more personal and special.

The site I use is - http://www.myscriptfont.com/

The instructions are simple to follow, first you need to download the template and print it off and then fill it in with your own handwriting, however you want to do it….

Then you need to scan it, the site will tell you what setting to use etc. When it is scanned you go back to the site and upload it, give it a name and then click on “send file” and then in a minute or so your font is ready to install on your computer, it really is that simple, just follow all the instructions.

I’m addicted ……. have fun!

Diamond Jubilee Crafts The Queen’s Handbag - using first4magnets

As you know a while back I was contacted by Jonathan at first4magnets to try out some of his products and in my review I remarked that I thought that the round flat magnets would make good clasps on something like handbag favours….. because in the past I have used Velcro which tends to pull at the paper….

…. And with the Diamond Jubilee fast approaching I thought that making “the Queens’s Handbag” would be an apt idea, but please this is just a “prototype” to see if the idea works, so you’ll have to excuse any globules of glue that you can see.

I’ve cut a strip of Bazzill card – 5cms x 14cms, and then scored it at across 2cms, 5cms, 2cms and 5cms to make the bag.

I have then stuck one of Jonathans 6mm magnets at each end of the inside of the handbag.  I will admit to having trouble sorting out the poles, and should have read the instructions on first4magnets website first as my magnets always seemed to repel!!! But as I thought, when opening the flap on the bag there is no tugging and so the paper doesn’t get damaged.

I’ve decorated the bag with a small Union Jack cut from a paper chain (available from most Cancer Research Charity Shops), a die cut crown and red ribbon handle. Inside I have put four of my Jubilee decorated Cadbury miniature chocolates

These would be lovely as table favours at a Jubilee Party, but because of the magnets would not be suitable for small children.

http://www.first4magnets.com/

Does Anyone Have???

Does anyone have this die?  If so I wonder if they could cut me out some gingerbread men in felt ….. perhaps we could work out a swop???  I have missed out so many times on e-bay to get my own!! Agghhhh

I Love ……

…… Dandelion clocks ……

…… and can’t actually believe I managed to take a half way descent picture of one …… !

Docrafts Boofle Card

This card measures 5ins x 5ins and is made using a white linen effect hand cut blank.

My love for using Docrafts A4 decoupage sheets continues ….. they have proved so popular at work …. I can’t keep up with demand!

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I think I may have done it .... I updated my AOL .... the blessed pop ups been pestering me for ages .... and it seems to have solved my Blogger posting at the same time! 

Marc’s Mini Accordion File

Marc sent me something that really fired up my creative juices, not sure what the proper name for them is is so I’m going to call them mini accordion files.  The first two in the picture are the “real thing” and the one on the right is a template that Marc also popped in so I could make my own.

The Japanese one was stunning ….with some of the envelopes containing lovely earrings and a necklace  ……

….. as was the green suede effect one, what is he like!!!!???

Now please bear with me as this was my first attempt …. and just hope the instructions are good enough for you to follow.

First I drew round Marc’s template, onto a firm/thick card, the notches indicate where the score lines should be. I then cut it out and scored and folded it, making the “joints” supple and bendy.

I chose to cover my file with a navy silk material/paper (from QVC outlet shop), but with hindsight, as this was my first effort perhaps it would have been easier to used a patterned paper.

I cut the silk paper giving me enough spare to fold over to give neat edges using double sided tape to stick it all down.

Then I cut out the notches, and proceeded to carefully and as neatly as possible fold over and stick the edges.

Voila …. I followed this by cutting another piece of silk paper to cover the inside of the file, again sticking it down with double sided tape.

Next came the envelopes, six in all, and all I can say is that Marc’s envelopes are much, much neater than mine ….. I was far too impatient  to see the finished article!

When the envelopes were all cut out and stuck together, I put a length of double sided tape down the middle and stuck the envelopes one on top of each other to form an accordion effect………

…… which I then stuck to both ends of the file.

I also added a far too large Velcro fixing to each end ….. again I was in far too much of a hurry!!

Phew …… finally done and dusted!

This is now going in my rucksack to keep all my little findings and treasure safe and sound.

THANK YOU MARC FOR SUCH A BRILLIANT IDEA

I have made a PDF of Marc’s templates, that I will gladly send to anyone who wants it. I am not too hot on this sort of thing, so I think in the process, the templates are now slightly smaller than the originals, so ignore the measurements I scribbled on them, but I am sure that from what I have done, you can use the measurements to make up your own set of templates if you want, or use the template as it is. – nellxxxx@aol.com

Accessorize Sweet Shop Stickers

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

How cute are these stickers from Accessorize (£2.00)?  I just could not resist them, but as I am still on my economy run I only bought two packs (instead of my usual six or seven),  from which I made seven cards with no stickers remaining.

The first card I made with them was pretty prim and proper …… so I had another go, this time using one of my Nestabliities dies.

I have to admit I prefer the plainer card, but that’s just me….. less is more!

Diamond Jubilee Crafts - Union Flag Tags

These tags measure 2.75ins x 3.5ins

As soon as I saw this Emma Bridgewater gift wrap I couldn’t resist it as I knew it would make brilliant Diamond Jubilee tags.

….. So I sat one “Coronation Street” cutting out  the flags ready to stick on strong pieces of Kraft card.  Then when that was done I made a tag template, plonked it on the stuck down  flags, drew round it and the cutting started all over again!

Once cut, I punched a hole through each tag, added a cream thread and a star charm and a bit of faux stitching on the back. Dead chuffed!

Inspiration……In Accessorize

I saw this huge mirror in the Exeter branch of Accessorize and just had to ask if I could take a couple of pictures of it ……….. it was so beautiful it almost took my breath away!

The girl said it was made up of unsold/broken pieces of Accessorizes jewellery

However, I studied it for ages and noticed that it wasn’t as random as it first appeared, the colours were very carefully matched and a great many of the same pieces were used over and over again, like the pearl bows, the blue floral hearts and gold butterflies etc. but it was still very clever. I am now on the lookout for a wide framed mirror …. because I want to have a go at making something similar for myself ……

A Weekend Away ….. Recharging The batteries

I’ve just got back from a weekend in Dawlish Warren, a chance to recharge my very depleted batteries, eat and drink all the wrong things and embrace the sound and smell of the sea ….. I took a few pictures trying to be all arty-farty ….. but I’m a bit disappointed by the results …. but I thought I would share them with you anyway …..

As I took this picture of some pebbles on the beach  I noticed a “heart shaped” one in the bottom right of the shot ….

Hmmmm thought I …..

…… and tried a couple of things with it.

I also couldn’t resist getting a shot of these beach huts…..

…… or these groins (if you’ll pardon the expression ……)

And this sign just made me laugh …..

Knitted Baby Booties

Remember the baby booties I fancied doing last week? Well I’ve done them!  They were so simple and look about half an hour each to knit and about ten minutes to sew up. 

Left plain they are quite cute, and originally I was going to put a button on the front to shush them up, but when I found the crocheted flowers amongst the bits in my button box, I just had to use them as they were perfect.

You can find the pattern here:- http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=4189&cps=21191

With my first pair successfully completed I am now thinking of variations on them, including a few pairs in various sizes in red for Christmas with suitably cute embellishments on the front. Hmmmmmm.