Nanny Gee's Place

Shamballa Bracelet

2012-02-15T20:19:00.001Z

Pink Shamballa

At last I have got around to making a Shamballa bracelet - been meaning to try for ages. I even bought some beads at Sandown last month! Of course this actually meant that I learned to do macramé for the first time too.

Am quite pleased with my first attempt. Shall now look out for some of the beads with a groove in them to take the cord. I also want some smaller beads to make some less chunkier ones. Hope there are some on sale at Farnborough in a couple of weeks - if not shall have to wait until Sandown at end of March.

If anybody wants to have a go - here are a couple of links:

http://www.spoiltrottenbeads.co.uk/make-a-shamballa-style-bead-bracelet-845-c.asp

and for visual learning of the knots. (this video used 4 strands, but the bracelet just has the one central strand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBHnJhcwfQo

Mags

Granddaughter's efforts

2012-02-14T23:08:00.001Z

A couple of weeks ago I spent an afternoon crafting with my youngest grandchildren. They had the option of card craft of jewellery craft. They chose cardmaking and at last I have obtained photos of the cards they made for their aunt, and thought as I had nothing of my own to share today I would share their finished cards. They each designed their own card, I just provided some card and stash to boost their own craft stash, plus punches to choose from. My job was to be in charge of the guillotine for trimming card!

The first one was made by the five year old. She liked my new tonic punch, and managed the border very well. (they really are easy to use punches). Good job the card was being hand-delivered as I think the beads she chose from my jewellery stash were a tad large! although they look good on the giant papermania flowers. I showed her how to mat and layer her sentiment. "oh Nanny I like how you do that, I am always going to do it - it makes it look like a bought card".

This second one was made by the two year old. Her big sister actually stamped the Happy Birthday image, and then decided she wasn't going to use it on her card so her young sister decided to use it, and of course she wanted it matted and layered too, so I helped her with this, but she used the tape pen!

I gather that when she knew I was coming over to do some craft, she was a bit upset and said to her Mum: "But I am too little to craft, Mummy". I don't think so! I think she made an excellent job, and she has no trouble with a tape pen or foam pads and can manage peel-offs!

I make no apologies for being a proud Nanny for today's post, as I think we have two more crafters in the making!

Mags

Bird of Paradise

2012-02-13T22:43:00.001Z

I made this card for my daughter-in-law whose birthday is the same day as my granddaughter's. I love this Jane Shasky image from Joanna's "from the heart of the garden cd. It is not often I use orange on my cards.

I printed out the image twice and decoupaged the flowers. I had the idea of using some of my beading cord to decoupage the twig on the image, but it didn't quite work - so used two lengths of diffent colours intertwined instead of ribbon. The flowers in the corner aren't quite as dark as they appear in the photo, they are actually same orange as in the ribbon bow.

I also made her a cake. I know her mum quite often makes her a chocolate cake for her birthday, and as the birth of our new grandchild is imminent, and as I wasn't sure if she would end up giving birth to another Valentine's Day baby, decided to opt for a cake that would keep - just in case.

I know she likes Cherry Cake, so that is what I made, and added a bit of water-icing on top and some cherries. (I think it looks like a giant iced bun!). The only thing I did wrong, was to follow the recipe and put all the ingredients in together, and then use the Kenwood, which of course blitzed all the cherries! Was a bit miffed as I had put in a lot more than the recipe stated - should have mixed it by hand! (or put in the cherries at the end! - duly noted for next time!) Anyway I threw in even more whole cherries when I realised my mistake! so even if doesn't look like there are a lot of cherries in it - it should definitely taste of cherries! LOL!

Mags

Blue necklace

2012-02-12T23:59:00.000Z

Blue chip floating necklace and memory wire bracelet

Made this last night as an extra little pressie for my granddaughter. First time I have used tigertail. The little blue "chip" beads were a present from my pal Sassie, think she will approve that I have made something for Ellie with them! I also added a few little pearls. I then made a complimenting bracelet with some memory wire.

another view

Thanks for popping by.

Mags

Ballet Shoe Birthday Cake

2012-02-11T23:44:00.000Z

Have had a busy day today - making and icing family birthday cakes, and also making a necklace for a birthday present.

This one is for my granddaughter, she is giving up ballet shortly after her next exam, and concentrating on her tap and street dance, which will give her more time on a Saturday reducing her lessons from 3 to 2 hours! She is a busy little bee with swimming lessons, Brownies, doing all her craft and homework, so something has had to give! So I thought it only apt that I make her a cake with ballet shoes on before it is too late. (I remember doing a similar cake for her mum when she was Ellie's age!)

I can report that she loves the cake, albeit it is pink, (not her favourite colour, but you don't see ballet shoes in purple!) as they called in with the cake board for it whilst I was in the last throws of icing it and didn't have time to hide it!

Fortunately there will still be a surprise as having received the board and iced it, I made a few quick roses (I call them marzipan roses, although they were made of sugarpaste!) to put on the board. Knowing that she really likes blues and purples, I edged the pink roses with some purple!

This evening I have sat and made her a little necklace and bracelet, so will share that tomorrow.

Thanks for dropping in!

Mags

Daisy Card

2012-02-10T23:54:00.003Z

As you can see I used one of yesterday's toppers on a card today. This was quite different from the card I had sketched out in my head. It was a toss up whether to use the guinea pig image from furry friends or one of the Daisy and Friends images I had coloured - decisions, decisions.

Anyway this image won, and I put the one of the girl laying down on the back - as for the guinea pig image - that went on the insert! (Me indecisive? nah - just can't make up my mind - so used all of them! LOL!) Actually as Ellie is into Zentangle the choice of the main topper was really a no-brainer in the end!.

My granddaughter is not a "pink" person, so found this lovely purple card in my stash (think it was some C & C card from Wilkinson's). Topper was mounted on silver mirri with a holographic ric rac peel-off around it. Sentiment was on deep purple mirri. I used my new tonic punch for the faux ribbon, and then ran a couple of the promarkers I used in the image over some flowers from my latest Docrafts Goody Bag to tone in (they were originally white with pink spots), and finished them off with some little flower gems from my stash.

Hope she likes it - can't believe she is going to be 10 this week!

Mags

ps I have now entered this in the Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - have never entered a challenge before! http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/

Daisy and Friends meet new Promarkers!

2012-02-09T17:08:00.001Z

We have had the tree surgeons here today, sorting out our oak trees, so to keep myself occupied between making them cuppas, and standing fascinated watching them work, I decided to play with my new spring 2012 edition Promarkers. I think these images are going to find their way on to birthday cards for the granddaughters this year - they are so cute! As all the girls do ballet, I chose the ballet themed ones to colour today.

This one reminds me of middle granddaughter

This one could be my youngest granddaughter!

Thes two remind me of the soon to be 10 year old

couldn't resist a little zentangle on the present!

It is eldest granddaughter's 10th birthday next week and she is into Zentangle - so think this last image is going to appear somewhere on her card!

Mags

Easter Zentangle

2012-02-05T22:04:00.000Z

Tonight's effort whilst watching "Midwives" - I wanted to do something with a word - and Easter just sprang to mind. I had intended to do just the wording in colour, but I got sort of carried away with the promarkers!

I am hoping that I can soon get my hands on the new 2012 spring colours - think it would look good in those!

Mags

Neigh!

2012-02-02T09:51:00.000Z

A card for a horse lover today. Image and baking paper from Joanna Sheen Furry Friends cd, mounted on a pearlescent card. Computer generated sentiment and the flowers were the "waste" from a Tonic punch.

Thanks for dropping by.

Mags

With Love

2012-01-31T19:29:00.001Z

I make no apologies - another "tangle", but this time using a stamped image. Stamped with memento ink and then tangled, and coloured and edged with promarkers (Cool Aqua, Pastel Green) and highlighted with Cool Grey1, and mounted on pearlescent card stock.

I discovered that the piece of left over pearlesecent card in my stash wasn't quite big enough for a proper matt and layer, but I think I have discovered a new effect! I also drew on the faux ribbon which was another piece of the pearlescent card. (OK - there is absolutely no hope for me - I have completely lost the plot now - it appears I have a tangled brain !) :-))

Just for comparison here is a photo of the original stamped image, before I tangled it.

I have made another card today (non-tangled) so will share that tomorrow to give you a respite from my tangling!

Thanks for popping by.

Mags

Hugs Tangle

2012-01-30T17:34:00.001Z

"Hugs"

There was much excitement in the road yesterday with two fire-engines and a the fast response ambulance car outside our friends house. The had a fire in the kitchen. My pal thinks she must have left something on after she had cooked their lunch. They are ok, although my pal suffered some smoke inhalation. I haven't seen them today, think they must be staying with family. No doubt it will take a while to get things sorted, and as her hubby is currently on crutches they will no doubt have to get the family involved in the cleaning up.

I am sure she will be distraught, as her craft corner is just off the kitchen and I can't begin to imagine what the smoke will have done to all her cardstock, ribbons etc.

Having finished my household chores and done a bit of gardening (vacuuming up more of the dreaded leaves to fill the bin ready for collection this week) I decided to try and create a "Hugs" card for them. For a change having done the tangle, I then used some promarkers to colour and highlight it.

It was a complete experiment, but I am rather pleased with it, particularly when I found I had exactly the right colour pearlescent card to matt it onto.

Thanks for looking

Mags x

Three Generations Now Hooked .......

2012-01-29T14:57:00.002Z

....... on Zentangle.

Zen and red

This is what I did last night whilst watching TV - a punched flower and a zentangle with a touch of red! and the following are my Daughter's and nine-year old Granddaughter's first attempts. Think these are loads better than mine - but of course they do have the book on Zentangle and the kit that I bought my Daughter for her birthday for inspiration! I have also gone right to the edge of my square of card for this one.

Think I am going to have to go down the less is more route as we have all used the same sized card to start with (9 cm square).

Daughter's first attempt

Granddaughter's first attempt

How good is that for a nine-year old! - and then my daughter got really good at it:

D's second attempt

K Zentangle

I absolutely love what she has done with this K - (going to have to try out that block design) and obviously my granddaughter did as she asked her Mum to do one with an E for her !

E for my granddaughter

I am going to have to do a lot more playing I can see - or else ask my daughter to do an M for me.

Are any of you inspired to get hooked on this zentangle doodling yet?

Mags

Crafter's Birthday Card

2012-01-28T00:04:00.000Z

This is the card I have made for my daughter. As soon as I saw this image on MCS Crafty Characters cd - I just knew I had to use it! I decoupaged the image and on one of the lower layers I cut down between the doors, so that it looked as though it really was bursting at the seams! The backing paper is also from the cd as is the blue sentiment shape, which I added the words to in MCS before printing. A bit of matting on to blue pearlescent card, a bit of ribbon and some flowers to complete the effect.

I used the same backing paper on the insert, but made it a lot fainter.

and as I mentioned in my earlier Zentangle posting, here is another one I did as a present tag.

Zentangle present tag

Happy Birthday Daughter!

Mags

Turquoise Daisies

2012-01-27T16:38:00.000Z

Turquoise Daisy Muffins

It's my daughter's birthday tomorrow, and I thought I really ought to make a cake or something for her. (You never know I might get nvited to tea!). The cake mix is lemon flavour sponge.

Close up - showing the sparkle!

I also made a single layer cake with the mixture - and just iced it very simply (oops shame I didn't realise the name was a bit wobbly - but still she knows I am a bit wobbly these days! LOL! ) Actually I have now straightened it up - that'll teach me not to use the straight edge to position the letters!

I didn't have a suitable new board, so had to use a square red charger!

Birthday Cake

Thanks for dropping by.

Mags

More Zentangle .....

2012-01-25T21:37:00.000Z

... so ok, I admit it I am hooked! I watched some more videos today:

Mooka and Betweed Zentangle

The first of today's efforts was created after watching Zentangle's "Mooka" and "Betweed" videos. I followed their instructions for the initial "square" of the Zentangle.

Mooka is the ones with the squiggle lines, and the Betweed is the one across the middle. I also tried a bit of blending with a pencil, but I need to treat myself to a soft B pencil so I can blend with my fingers. ( I only had HBs in the house). I hope if you click on the picture you can see the pencil shading. (I might have to save them as larger images as the new Blogger doesn't seem to make the pictures large when you click on them anymore.

I started with the Betweed across the middle and then did the lower Mooka, I prefer that to the one at the top, as don't really like the black background. I had to add some sort of flower patterns to bring it to life more. I need a bit more practise with these two designs.

I then decided to try White on Black:

Black on White Random Designs

This wasn't so easy, although I did do the freehand outline on the black card with pencil for the basic layout of the sections before I put pen to paper. I tried my inkessentials white pen, which although it has a fine nib, it didn't seem to like the black card - maybe I need some smoother card. I ended up using a White Soufflé pen, and although you it doesn't show up in the picture I used a sakura sparkle pen. It looks quite effective in real life. As you can see I included a bit of Mooka on it.

The "basket-weave" in the bottom left triangle had sparkle between the elements, and the right-hand bottom triangle was highlighted with sparkle too, as well as some of the other sections - the section that looks like a ships rigging, in real life looks likes lots of little quilted pillows. I went over the outside of the outline with a bullet-nib White Pen-Touch pen to give it a bit more definition.

The white on black I think needs to have a larger scale pattern, if I am to use Sakura pens, as the lines are much thicker using them.

I have signed up to a blog which gives you a free Zentangle pattern each week to try. http://blog.suzannemcneill.com/, and I also think I saw a site which gives lots of samples of patterns. Think I shall make myself little notebook with designs in it.

Mags

First Zentangle

2012-01-25T00:09:00.001Z

My first Zentangle

I have been doodling tonight or Zentangling. I have had so much fun. I have placed the image on a card for the purpose of photographing it - so it may end up on a card, or it may end up in a picture frame. It didn't take very long (and in fact I did another one tonight - which I will share at the weekend - the reason for the delay will become obvious then!).

Whilst we were at Sandown, we watched a demonstration of Zentangle, which I already knew about having watched Barbara Gray on C&C. My daughter had never seen it before, and I knew she would love it as she is a great "doodler" (as I used to be when I was at work taking notes at meetings, or taking dictation, etc and doodles would appear on my notebook if the meeting was boring or whilst my boss was on the phone!).

The upshot was that I offered to buy her a starter pack and instruction book as part of her Birthday present. Well I have been very very good, and tempted as I was to have a peak at the book, I have refrained ! However, I did this afternoon google Zentangle, and having watched some videos, my fingers were itching to pick up a pen!

I cut the shape of the paper with my Making Memories wavy cutter and created a random shape and then went from there, using the inspiration from videos and patterns I found on the net. The demonstrator we saw at Sandown actually used pencil and a blender pencil to give some shading, but obviously as I don't have that mine are just black and white. I used a Letraset 0.1 Fine Line Drawing Pen, and filled in some of the bigger blocks with a black Promarker, for quickness. I also edged the finished design with the Promarker.

Close-up of the Zentangle

The pack I bought for my daughter also had some template patterns for things like Christmas Trees, Valentine Hearts, etc - so can't wait for her to open her present and learn more! I am already thinking along the lines of using my Paint Fusion Stamps and Zentangling them!

The demonstrator also showed us examples of coloured Zentangles using jelly pens - and in particular using a white pen and also Sakura clear sparkle on black card.! ooooo can't wait to try that - I have an Inkessentials White pen in my stash, as well as the Sakura Clear Sparkle (I use it so much that I even know the number of that pen - 700!) (Am also wondering if my old blender pen in my felt pen stash might work too on the pencil ..... ?)

Sorry for the rambling - but you will gather I am rather hooked! Do have a try for yourself - I gather it is all the rage in the States, and is considered to be Yoga for the Brain!

Mags

Playing about

2012-01-23T23:49:00.000Z

I decided to have a play tonight with some recent purchases, some I bought at New Year in the Craft Barn half price sale, and some I bought at Sandown Show on Saturday. No recipient in mind at the moment - so one for the box!

The main topper is created from lemon papermania paper and purple mirri using a Nellie Snellen die. The strip along the bottom was created with my new Tonic Studios Simplicity Patterned Punch - "Daisy Strip" (from Crafty Devils), and the fancy circles from a Martha Stewart punch, using papermania pearlescent card, and I used the little flowers from the centre of the Daisy Strip to decorate the main topper. Finished off with a couple of pearls from a sheet also purchased from Crafty Devils and a white sparkly peel-off greeting from my stash.

I am loving the new Tonic punches - takes a bit of practise to keep them in line, but am getting there. I also bought the Celtic Strip which is gorgeous!

Thanks for looking.

Mags.

Wire Mesh Ribbon and Bead Necklace

2012-01-22T22:46:00.001Z

My daughter and I went to Sandown yesterday to the Stitch & Creative Crafts Show. We had a great day, meeting up with some crafting friends, as well as catching up with some of our Demonstrator friends.

One of the things on my list to buy was the kit to make the above necklace from RibbonBox. I bought some of the elements last year, but decided I really needed a kit with instructions and the clasp findings to make my first one. So had a play last night and this is the result.

I am not sure how well you can see it, but the large beads are encapsulated in the mesh ribbon, with the silver rondels being on the outside of the ribbon. The most difficult bit is to hide the holes of the beads (they should be hidden by the silver spacers), and I still have to do a bit of tweaking to a couple that managed to move!

The mesh ribbon is a fantastic product, and you can do so much with it. Make flower/butterfly embelishments for cards, ribbon brooches. The secret is to have a play, and if you don't like it just pull it all back into shape!

We spent a fortune - well I did - but having said that I did buy about 4 family birthday presents whilst we were there, so I didn't spend THAT much on me! I didn't spend too much on beading stuff, but I did treat myself to some of the new tonic punches - WOW - they are brill - absolutely love the two I bought that cut strips of "punched ribbon". I also treated myself to some sizzix dies. Shall hopefully create something with those to share with you in near future.

My daughter also bought the where-with-all to do some fusioning of material into toppers, pictures etc using a soldering iron - absolutely fascinating - can't wait to have a try at that when I next visit! (Have already told IM-indoors I need a soldering iron!)

Mags

ps Yesterday I wore the long silver necklace I made earlier this week to Sandown, and I had so many compliments about it (even from some of the stall-holders); so that really made my day!

Long Silver Necklace

2012-01-18T16:12:00.001Z

Watching Sarah Millsop on Create and Craft today, and seeing her long Chain Maille necklace, reminded me that I had an idea going around in my head since before christmas for a long necklace, so I set to to put my idea into reality. It is actually longer in length than in the above picture.

For the jewellery enthusiasts amonst my followers - the chain was a length of flat chain. the beads were round sparkly silver beads with smaller shiny round beads either side, alternated with little sparkly "cluster effect" beads, with a decorated flat silver bead either side, held in place to create a "floating effect" by silver crimp beads. This is the first time I have tried to do something like this with crimp beads. I am really pleased with the end result - it came out just as I wanted it to, even my husband commented on how striking it was - heck - praise indeed!

full length view

I have also added a few other views of it - as it was quite difficult in today's light to get a decent picture.

It is also difficult to see how pretty the different silver beads are - I have converted a couple of the pictures to black and white so that hopefully you can see the beads better:

same picture as one above but converted to black and white

I will try and take a photo when the weather improves in daylight, perhaps with me wearing the necklace, as I would really like you to see how sparkly it is.

Thanks for popping by.

Mags

simple necklace

2012-01-16T11:40:00.000Z

Just another simple pendant on leather ribbon for a friend. I gather it has been much admired.

MCS meets Joanna Sheen

2012-01-14T17:44:00.002Z

Groovy!

Well after all that sewing this week, I managed to play with some cardmaking bits today, and achieved something completely different! I have used a backing colour, and two images from MCS Men-y Happy Returns, which have been edged with peel-offs to keep the thickness of the card thinner for posting.

I then added stamped images, which I coloured with promarkers and then embossed with UTEE, from Joanna Sheen "Groovy Baby" Stamp sheet. Cardstock was leathereffect burgundy card.

I think my nephew might laugh at the old fashioned record player - but couldn't resist adding it. He is a DJ, and is currently looking for a new scooter to replace his old one! (wonder if he will buy a red one?).

Thanks for dropping buy.

Mags

Baby's Cot Blanket

2012-01-13T00:21:00.000Z

Cot blanket

I have been very busy this week finishing off this cot blanket for my son and daughter-in-law's new baby, which is due in February. I confess that I didn't actually knit the squares for this one as I was so busy before Christmas trying to get the lounge stripped of wallpaper and redecorated. Fortunately my daughter's MIL loves knitting and as she offered to do something for the new baby (She is known as Auntie Anne to my son's two daughters), and she kindly offered to knit the squares for this one, as she had always wanted to knit this pattern, but never had the opportunity. However, she left me to neaten all 80 squares and to sew them together and do the crochet around the edge as she doesn't do crochet - so it was a joint effort. Think it took me almost as long to neaten all the ends and sew up etc as it did Anne to knit it!

I was so grateful for her help, as I am not the world's greatest knitter - in fact I hate knitting - it takes so long to achieve (give me some material to make a dress in a couple of hours any day!), but my DIL wanted a blankie for the new baby. We don't know what it is going to be so once again it was a neutral colour - the baby's sisters have pale green and pale gold ones. (If they have another child think we shall have to know whether it is pink or blue before it is born as running out of neutral colours! LOL!)

The pressure has been on to get it finished as my DIL has been warned that she is showing 4 weeks ahead of predicted date, so that means anytime soon! (and there we were worrying that if it was late it might be a leap year baby). Mind you they could be wrong yet!.

I did say it would probably be born on Valentine's Day as we already have two birthdays that date (one being my DIL!) but now that it looks as though it will be early with a whole lot of family birthdays at end and beginning of Feb, we are wondering what chances of another doubling up on dates!

Now that it is finished - hopefully I can start playing with some of my new craft bits.

Mags

choker necklace

2012-01-09T12:36:00.001Z

Blue Choker necklace

Just found some photos on the camera of pressies I had made for Christmas, that I hadn't downloaded onto the computer (or should that be uploaded - I never know!)

Choker necklace finding was from Beader's companion, the bead holder I bought at Sandown - I can't remember the supplier - but they are sold on various bead sites. The beautiful blue beads, were some from my stash that I bought at Farnborough last year.

I also made one with red beads for my DIL - but don't appear to have taken a photo of that.

Mags

A Bevy of Thank You Cards

2012-01-07T12:57:00.001Z

It has been a bit busy since Christmas, as I had a houseful of visitors and family over New Year, and I have only just got around to doing my Thankyou cards. I had a hospital appointment yesterday to check out a dodgy eye (which turned out to be ok) and because it took some hours for the blurryness to wear off after the drops, I sat and coloured in the images that I had stamped the day before in order to sit quietly and keep myself occupied, whilst listening to the tv (as couldn't actually see it that well with the blurry eyes) I must admit my first love will always be stamping, and I find colouring in so therapeutic.

The sheet of stamps was a free one with Cardmaking and Papercraft - and the only reason I bought the magazine when I saw it on the shelf was to do my Thankyou cards - it was just perfect for what I wanted.

Images were coloured with promarkers (what else - just love blending with those) and then I tried out some distress inks that I bought at the Craft Barn sale where I went on NY Eve with my pal Sassie. I have never tried distress inks before. (I know where have I been!)

The two cards with blue background were distressed with broken china, and the first one has a bit of bundled sage on it too, the other three were distressed with scattered straw. I also ran the cardstock through my woodware cutter to give a wavy edge, and then ran the ink pad along the edge. I was going to matt the image, but decided to just keep the cards "clean and simple" as didn't want a "matt" to distract from the distressed edge.

Am quite pleased with my first attempt at distressing.

Thanks for looking

Mags

1st Birthday

2012-01-06T16:11:00.000Z

Bunny Snuffles 1st Birthday Card

Created with MCS Bunny Snuffles Big Birthday Bash cd. Main image and flags decoupaged, and then a few embellishments from my stash added (little hedgehog, balloons and "with love" tag), and few highlights with Sakura Clear stardust.

Mags

I may have forgotten to take a photo .....

2012-01-05T17:37:00.000Z

..... but I can share my draft layouts of two January birthday cards, that I menionted in my last post. Both were made from JS "From the Heart of the Garden" cd.

I quite often plan my layouts either in Publisher or MCS and then print off the different elements. In both cases the images were matted and layered with appropriate coloured card. (I thik the teacup one was mounted on gold mirri, and the purple one on silver mirri. (That's why I take a photo cos I can't remember!) In the first one - I actually replaced the bottom little image with the flower spray on the final card. You will have to imagine that the backing paper in both cases was mounted on an A5 cream card. I actually imported the purple image into MCS in order to match the colouring of the sentiment to the image.

so although I forgot to take a photo before I rushed to get them in the post (and blame that on the fact that I also had visitors in the house - so brain cell was not functioning at full power - LOL!) - Hopefully you can get the gist of what the cards look liked.

Mags

The last card of 2011

2012-01-01T01:32:00.000Z

A card for a birthday on 31 December, for my son-in-law's mother. She joined the family to see the New Year in as we had my pal Sassie and family staying - so the children were allowed to stay up to see the fireworks and play "gambling" card games! - we taught them Newmarket and the pennies had their yearly airing!

I will have to make the photo of this card last as I also made two others for early January, and in my rush to get them in the post because of the Bank Holiday I forgot to post them. Fortunately this one was still to hand!

The images and backing paper (as were the other ones) was from the JS "From the Heart of the Garden". I did draft the other cards in Publisher so will try and recreate the idea and post them in next couple of days.

In the meantime - I would like to wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Mags

Cake Pops, + Bad News and Good News

2011-12-23T20:41:00.000Z

Well here is my attempt at Cake Pops - not exactly brilliant - but quite edible. I ran out of lollipop sticks, so put the balls of cake mix into little sweet cases and poured chocolate over them

close up for some of the pops

Now for the bad news - as I was brushing my teeth last night I discovered an unknown object in my mouth - turned out it was a piece of my crown. So it was up early to ring Dentist and get an appointment. "Never seen that happen he says the porcelaine has cracked" - trust me to be different. Anyway he polished it down, and because it didn't take very long, he decided to do my check up today instead of in a few weeks time when I had an appointment booked! So that was a bit of good news, and got a nice clean and polish into the bargain!

And the icing on the cake was the fact that my youngest granddaughter is home from hospital - yippee - had a small op to remove the drain this morning and then was released this afternoon! She will be on antibiotics for another few days, but the good thing is she is home for Christmas. Perfick end to the week!

Mags

More Baking!

2011-12-22T22:05:00.000Z

shortbread shapes, frangipane mince pies (with orange pastry) and puff pastry mince pies

I couldn't see to do a lot when I got back from the emergency appointment at the opticians (which turned out to be nothing to sorry about - phew) but I had to have drops in my eye, and they took ages this time to wear off - so I pottered in the kitchen

Made some mini frangipane mince pies - gosh they are yummy - not sure how many will be left for the visitors next week! Also made some shortbread, which I was going to decorate, but as am still feeling under par - shall leave them and maybe dip them in chocolate next week. If not they will remain plain!

I made some more mincepies with puff pastry - was a tad worried I had burned them - as the pinger didn't go off - anyway chief taster said they are brilliant and not burned!

I also prepared the mix for some cake pops and put those together this evening - don't think I shall be rushing to make them again - tad fiddly. I didn't have any candy melts, and the chocolate is taking an age to set! (I may show you the disasters tomorrow when they are set!)

Think I am all baked out now - so shall relax a bit for next couple of days.

Mags

A baking evening

2011-12-22T00:29:00.000Z

Life is a very weird here at mo. My youngest granddaughter was rushed to hospital last week, with an infection in her jaw of some sort. They have been backwards and forward to hospital, then she was kept in on Monday and had scans yesterday - today she was transferred to another hospital and had an operation to remove an abcess!

I have a filthy cold, so haven't been able to visit as well as problem with one of my eyes - and have got an emergency appointment to see about that tomorrow - hey ho - why does it all happen just before Christmas.

Anyway I needed to do some baking ready for my visitors next week - so to take my mind off granddaughter and try and "sweat" my cold out of me I made this lot this evening!

Sausage and Onion pie, Meat and vegetable pie

sage & onion sausage rolls, mince pies, few jam tarts and cheesy nibbles with left-over pastry

Blue pendant

2011-12-19T23:07:00.000Z

Just a very quick simple pendant on a cord.

Black and Silver & Black and White

2011-12-18T20:06:00.000Z

My two hairdressers admired my necklaces, so I knew what to make them as a christmas gift. I asked them their favourite colours - black was the answer! so two variations on a theme.

Black & White

Black and Silver

and the boxes:

and finally - third christmas cake .....

2011-12-17T00:08:00.000Z

Red & Gold Beaded Christmas Cake

.... mine! Another beaded effort, but this time with a crocheted wire circlet for the side of the cake.

The top knot

crocheted wire beaded circlet.

This view shows how NON-White the so called white sugarpaste is, when you compare it with the white royal iced snow effect around the board!

Mags

Snowflake cake

2011-12-16T14:53:00.000Z

Turquoise snowflake cake

This is the second of the three Christmas cakes I have made this year for the family. This time a sugarpaste coated one. I was very disappointed in the sugarpaste - I decided to try some new stuff this year that Mich Turner of the Little Venice Cake Company had put her name to. I should have realised that as it was made by Silver Spoon it would be rubbish! It was horrendous to handle and took a couple of attempts to get it on the cake. Haven't had that problem since I first started cake decorating many many many moons ago! Still we live and learn! Not only that but the packet said "White" - erm as you can see in the photo it is ivory! At least the blue dusted white snowflakes show up on it!

I made the top knot from turquoise and white pearl seed beads. Slight panic when I discovered the ribbons I had weren't quite the right colour that I wanted, but solved the problem by putting a green ribbon under the blue one to get the required turquoise colour! It now matches my daughter's dining room decor perfectly.

Look out for tomorrow's posting - third and last cake - mine!

Thanks for dropping by.

Mags

Poinsettia Christmas Cake

2011-12-15T21:14:00.001Z

I have been busy today - finished off a couple of necklances, and finished off two Christmas Cakes. Didn't know what to share today - so thought I would show one of the Cakes.

So this is a Royal Iced Rich Fruit Cake for my son and daughter-in-law. Kept it very simple. Just a red chiffon ribbon around the base, and a white chiffon one around the board. Some "iced snow" on the board, which has had hologram glitter sprinkled over it.

view of the top

Close up of the spray

I confess I cheated with the spray. I had no idea of what I was going to put on the top and the I saw a spray in Sains which was on special offer - £2 instead of £3. I decided to cheat and use that instead of making my own and mixing up lots of different coloured flowerpaste! Not sure that my DIL was too impressed when I showed her - but I said that I was going to dust it up, which I duly did then ran it through the steam from the kettle to give it a shine and blend the dusts.

The original purchased spray before I got to it!

right back to the grindstone still have my cake to finish.

Mags

Birthday Cake Card

2011-12-14T22:38:00.001Z

Another card from Joanna Sheen Jane Shasky - "from the heart of the garden" cd. All the images and the backing paper are from cd 2. The toppers from the Mixed Florals section, and the backing paper from the Calligraphy backing papers section; and I lightened the colour of the backing paper slightly in Publisher. I also created the sentiment on the little topper in Publisher picking up one of the colours in the image.

Although it doesn't look like it all the toppers were mounted on the same silver mirri card, and I added a pale lilac organza bow.

I chose this image as my cousin the recipient is not only a cardmaker like me, but also a cake decorator - it must be in our genes!

Mags

Wedding Anniversary Card

2011-12-12T17:54:00.000Z

It is my bestest craft buddy's Wedding Anniversary today. I had a bit of a panic on Friday evening, when I realised I hadn't made her a card and needed to get it made and in the post PDQ - like before midday Sat. However, it seems that RM have failed to deliver it on time, even though it went first class! Still it is the thought that counts!

Fortunately for me, I had some bits that I had been playing with that saved the day (I know I shouldn't own up to this really, but she will knows that I don't keep a lot of ready-made bits in my stash - so it really was a saving grace for me for once. My guardian angel must have been on my shoulder for once!). Must play and put more ready-made bits in my stash - mind you knowing "Murphy's Law" I will never have the right bits in my stash for what I want!

Hope you don't have to wait too long to receive the real thing Jacque! xx

Mags

Gardening and Books Theme!

2011-12-11T20:33:00.001Z

Had another request from my pal for a card with a gardening and books theme - think this is the third one I have made with this theme this year! Must admit my mind was blank for a few days, as I didn't really want to repeat one I had done earlier this year. As I got into bed last night - I suddenly had a brainwave - bookatrix board. Now I don't normally use this, as I don't really get on with it (undertstatement !!!!) - but nothing ventured nothing gained! (and blow me down when Jak Heath's email came through this morning - she was recalling using her bookatrix board a few years ago - phew that was scary - but then great minds think a like - LOL!)

Cream hammered card with a matted background on silver card (from JS Jane Shasky "from the heart of the garden" cd). Bookatrix shape in pearlescent card and embossed vellum (vellum was from a Goody Bag) with an image from the Jane Shasky cd and a computer generated sentiment, both matted to match the background. Finished off with some orchid coloured ribbon and some daisy ribbon and some little purple flowers I found in my flower stash!

Insert was also from the cd, and I put a little image of the topper on the purple envelope, which I lined with the background wood effect paper.

Took me most of the afternoon to produce - but think the majority of the time was spent trying to decide which topper and which backing paper to use! lol

Hope she likes it!

Mags

Purple & Green

2011-12-10T21:01:00.000Z

Purple & Green ribbon necklace

I asked my niece what her favourite colours were - the reply purple and green. Hopefully she will like this then! Purple & Green ribbon and Purple and Green beads on the charm. Had a bit of a panic on with necklaces past couple of weeks as ran out of silver bell end clasps, and local craft shop were out of stock until after Christmas. Fortunately tracked some down on the net!

gift bag

and this is the bag I made to for it to go in. I had made a box but realised that meant parcel would have to be sent as a package and would require a long queue at the Post Office - so I compromised, and made this little bag with my Hougie and instructions from Hougie Book 2. It's called a milkcarton gift bag!

Mags

First Christmas

2011-12-10T00:31:00.001Z

Used my Forever Friends cd for this one for my great great nephew. I do love this cd. Created the image in the programme, and then added some "glitter" snow.

Granddaughters....

2011-12-09T00:20:00.000Z

...... cards that is. Just three quick simple ones.

Hopefully after this week, I shall be around more - the dreaded stripping and painting is nearly done. I have managed to do behind one glass/china cabinet today - including taking everything out, cleaning and putting back. Had this brilliant idea - take photo of shelves in cabinet, before removing everything - fab - it was easy peasy to get it all back in its right place, after it was washed.

Just three more strips of wallpaper behind other display unit to do tomorrow - but this is big and heavy - not looking forward to that tomorrow. However, that will be the last of it. (well there is a little bit to do in an alcove behind TV, which requires shelves to be taken down first - but that is probably going to be left until the New Year as you can't really see it - unless ..... I get time and inclination before Christmas after every thing else on the todo list is done!)

21st Card, Necklace & Box

2011-12-05T18:35:00.000Z

It is one of my great nieces birthdays today. Topper and backing paper from Butterflies section of JS From the Heart of the Garden cd. I adjusted the colour of the backing paper to compliment the toppers.

I also made a necklace for her, using Pandora style beads; with the option of putting the key charm on a phone, purse/handbag or a keyring. (I have made a different necklace for her for Christmas, which will have a dangly that could be worn on this necklace if she wants to vary it from the key).

Choker necklace with optional key charm attachment

Close up of key beads

and this is the box I made for the necklace with my hougie board - flower is actually more purple than blue.

Box for necklace

thanks for dropping by

Mags

champagne necklace

2011-12-03T22:50:00.000Z

champagne necklace

Well the red version didn't make it to Sugarcraft raffle, as my pal Paula rather liked it. I said I would make her another one, but realised I didn't have enough ribbon - so I quickly made this one yesterday, and the red one will be winging its way to her. I actually took the wherewithall to make it to the surgery yesterday as OH had an appointment in the heart clinic (can report all results ok!) - as usual Doc was running slightly behind and that was at 8.30 in the morning!

Came home and made the little charm and added the chain and clasp findings. The organza makes it look quite sparkly.

They went down quite well I think at Sugarcraft Club as the demonstrator was showing us how to make beaded jewellery for our cakes! Right up my street - so watch this space - as if I have the right beads may make some for my Christmas cakes.

(Mind you Christmas cakes are a bad word in this house today!) I marzipanned 3 cakes this morning, and then went to put the sugarpaste on two of them. I had bought the new Mich Turner (Little Venice Cake Company) sugarpaste to try as it was on special in Sains. First disappointment that although it said white icing - it was very much off-white and more like champagne coloured icing! The second was that it was absolute rubbish to work with and coat a cake. Had 3 attempts on the first cake - crikey - haven't had to do that since I was a student many many years ago! I was so cross - it nearly got thrown across the kitchen! I hadn't realised it was a Silver Spoon product - wouldn't have touched it with a barge pole - that'll learn me to look at packaging more closely! but it was the colour that really made me cross. If that is what she used on the Royal Wedding cake - no wonder it looked ivory instead of white! ok rant over - just got to get on and do the royal iced cake - theoretically the marzipan should dry out for a few days, but I might risk it as it will take me 6 days to put the coating on - wonder if the kids would like old-fashioned "snow" finish cake instead? :-0 !!

Mags

Phone Charms & Organza Necklace

2011-12-01T17:55:00.002Z

Apologies for being awol a bit recently - life has overtaken me a tad! I am still struggling with the decorating of the lounge, and the stripping of wallpaper - but I am getting there slowly! However, abandoned the decorating yesterday and today and did some crafting, as was feeling a little underpar.

Made these items last night, as I had promised our sugarcraft club that I would make a couple of items for the Christmas Party Night Raffle tomorrow. (They already have a paint fusion candle, and I may possibly wrap up another. Depends how time permits tonight/tomorrow - I may even make some boxes for these items!)

The first item is a couple of very simple phone charms in red and purple.

key charms

The second item is one of my ribbon necklaces with a little charm pendant. This was an experiment with some wider organza ribbon bought from Joanna Sheen. Also because they didn't have any silver ball ends in our little local craft shop - I had to use gold ones - and of course all my pendant bits are silver, thus having to make a suitable charm with gold findings. (and typing this have just realised that I was supposed to ring said craft shop to make sure the owner understood the order I asked the chap to write down for her today for the silver bell ends - and of course it's too late now - the shop will be closed! grrr. she isn't in every day either - have to see if I can e-mail her!)

Organza Ribbon Necklace

Right better go and feed the man of the house, and then settle down tonight to Christmas card writing, and using the flat spitty thing and the surfboard! :-)

Thanks for dropping by.

Mags

Introducing my latest grandchild to be

2011-11-28T22:55:00.001Z

Grandchild Number 4

Had a lovely afternoon/evening today. I was invited to go along to the scan of my latest grandchild to be, with my son and his family. Baby didn't want to play for a while and was hiding behind the placenta, but then we saw it. So funny it was playing hide and seek, covering its eyes with its hands and then taking them away and opening one eye. Had us in stitches.

Those of you who are friends with me on FBook - can see a video. Can't add it here as don't know how to download it from son's FB page.

Mags

A confession

2011-11-28T00:05:00.000Z

Well it looks as though I had better "fess up". I bought some Christmas Cards on Saturday - the first time for many years. I just felt that I might not get through all the cards I need to make. Having updated the card list addresses and found that there are 142 on there and I have only made half that amount .......

I know I am naughty and quite cross with myself - but just haven't had the mojo to make cards - am so busy trying to get the lounge decorated before Christmas! Can only do a couple of hours or so at a time, and juggling that with housework, gardening, visits to nurses and doctor appointments which seem to have taken over our life! Shouldn't knock it really - we didn't see much of our doctor last year as she had fall from her bike, and although wearing a crash helmet - she did some damage to her head. She is now back and well and not having seen his Lordship for a while, is running loads of tests (not helped by fact that one had to be done twice as we though it was wrong - we were correct ..... added to that I have had my six monthly blood test recently and of course that means a visit to the diabetes nurse. Stupidly I said to our Doc - on OH's last visit - do you need to see me or are you happy for the nurses to monitor me - her reply - "yes I ought to see you, as haven't seen you for 18 months! ......... hey ho!

Still I would rather our friends knew we still think of them and we haven't left the planet with a bought card, than nothing at all. Sometimes it is the only chance we seem to get these days to catch up on news. None of us are getting any younger, and there were quite a few names deleted/amended this year.

Hopefully I will be forgiven this year.

Mags

Red and White Christmas

2011-11-22T13:27:00.001Z

Whilst tidying up my stash the other day, I came across these foiled images, and as I am trying to be good and use up stash, created this card, with the addition of some red peel-offs that had also been forgotten.

Green and White Christmas

2011-11-20T10:41:00.000Z

Another couple of examples of variation on a theme with the Kanban toppers. I think I may add some peel-offs around the green backing square ....

... and the same for this one - it also needs a sentiment, but having spent a few hours yesterday looking for the packs that I bought a couple of months ago - it looks like some computer generated ones will be the order of the day!

Christmas Cards

2011-11-19T13:32:00.001Z

Purple snowflake with embossed backing

Well I have been trying to catch up on making the christmas cards this week - managed 32 the other day and another 16 last night - so have now got a total of 70 done - still a way to go, but as you will see I am working on the "Less is More" look. I feel there is no point going overboard for Christmas cards, as a) they are not treasured as much as Birthday Cards, and b) with the number I have to make - I like to keep them to the lowest postage rate wherever possible.

Most of my cards this year are being made from the Kanban kit of toppers that I bought earlier this year. Knowing that time would be limited as I had so much I needed to do - I thought this would save time - not sure that has worked - perhaps I should have stuck to what I know - stamping or cds! bit out of my comfort zone with this kit - but you have to try everything don't you!

I have been doing a lot of variations on a theme, and thought if I took photos of the cards, I could also see for myself those that needed tweaking. Sometimes when you come back to something you can see where a bit of glitter etc would work wonders! - and you can't have too much glitter at Christmas!!!!

So here are a couple more (and I can see this next one needs some attention as the acetate is wanting to curl up - quickie glue pen to the rescue methinks! - Have had the Kanban acetate for a while in my stash)

Purple snowflake with Kanban gold acetate

Purple snowflake with glitter background.

Well that's today's selection. More tomorrow.

Mags

Floral sideswing

2011-11-17T11:25:00.001Z

Floral side swing

Well it's back to my current favourite fold today for the last of the cards I made over the weekend. Unfortunately the colours look quite different in the photo to what was actually on the card! Sometimes it is so difficult to capture the colours! (for instance the flowers are much more pink in real life, and butterfly is a silver peel-off and not blue! and the papers to the left of the diamond are actually the same as the ones on the right - albeit without the ribbon!)

I had the topper in my stash for some time, and had forgotten about it. I had borrowed my daughter's new nestie shapes some time ago, and cut out the fancy topper backing from stardream card, and then coloured one of Joanna Sheens floral stamps to match - I liked it so much that it got put away in my "stroking only" box - lol! So these two items were the basis around which I designed the rest of the card.

I used some matching shades of papermania pearlescent card, some ribbon, various peel-offs and jewels from my stash. I highlighted the flower image with sakura clear stardust.

I created a personalised pretty pink insert using a JS backing paper which was like silk fabric, with another larger white daisy peel-off on it.

Not sure what I am up to today - managed to make 32 Christmas cards yesterday - (definitely on the LiM theme!) - so it may be more of those, or I may wield the steamer again and try and get a bit more of the stripping of the lounge done!

Mags

Another Dog

2011-11-16T10:28:00.001Z

Dog in a hat

Today's card is another one from JS Furry Friends - there really are some cute images on this cd. Backing paper is also from the cd. Just kept it simple matting onto a sort of gold papermania pearlescent card and added a little bit of chiffon ribbon with a faux bow.

Mags

Puppy & Roses

2011-11-15T16:59:00.001Z

Puppy and Roses

Today's card is an image from furry friends. The backing paper is also from the same cd - but it was pink - so I converted it to the shade I wanted in Publisher. Backing paper, topper and computer generated sentiment all mounted on my favourite papermania pearlescent card. Some ribbon from my stash and some card candi.

Mags

Water Lily

2011-11-14T19:59:00.002Z

Water Lily card

Well back in my comfort zone for this card. Backing paper and toppers, all mounted on silver mirri are from Joanna Sheen's Enchanted Dreams cd. The computer generated sentiment was created with a faux background, by copying and cropping part of the background before mounting on the same silver mirri.

Thanks for dropping by.

Mags

Art Deco

2011-11-13T14:25:00.001Z

Art Deco Lady

Well this is a bit out of my comfort zone. Not only is it decoupage, but it is art deco. Image was from a Debbie Moore's Decoupage Delights Paris cd, which I received from a pal as a pressie. I kept it fairly simple and just highlighted her jewellery with sakura sparkle.

As my shoulder is killing me at mo (slept awkwardly on Friday night - or was it painting the ceiling that caused it) so am having a smal break from decorating and spent yesterday making 5 cards - so at least I can blog for next five days! - you have been warned!

Thanks for dropping by.

Mags

Fluffy Shawl

2011-11-10T22:40:00.003Z

Well it is official - I am useless at knitting. (ok to be honest, I HATE knitting at the best of times, and this really confirms why I don't do it that often). However, I love my granddaughters, and having seen a little shawl that a cyber pal had knitted, I had this idea of making one for each of them for Christmas. The pattern was in two sizes - so knowing I had to make them for a 2yr old, a 5yr old and a 9yr old - decided to make the largest one first, and then the smallest one and work out which one to make for the 5 yr old.

fluffy cape/shawl

So this is the larger one. It's really lovely and fluffy and silky and shiny - Only problem is - it fits me! I know my knitting can be on the loose side at times, but this is ridiculous - the pattern was supposed to take 2 balls for the small size and 3 for the larger one - I managed to use nearly 4!

Looks as though I am going to re-think making them for the grandchildren - this one may end up with either my daughter or daughter in law - and if neither of them wants it - looks as though it might be for me!

Well I decided to concentrate on finishing it today, and abandoned the decorating of the lounge - methinks tomorrow it is back to what I do best! (and that is not knitting!) :-(

You will find me up the ladder - lol!

Mags

Sympathy Card

2011-11-09T21:57:00.000Z

I haven't blogged for a few days, I have been busy knitting christmas presents, and tackling the decorating of the lounge! as well as sort of putting off making this card - mainly because I like many others I was numb when I learned of the death of a dear forum and facebook "cyber" friend, and my brain cell was not functioning as to what I wanted to do for this difficult card. In the end I kept it simple.

Mags

A Little Something for Me and some Christmas Bits

2011-11-03T11:22:00.001Z

Quick Pendant

I needed a necklace to go with my T-shirt ysterday morning - 30 seconds later this was ready! A Glass pendant bought at Sandown and a piece of suede "ribbon". (I took this photo outside and it has come out bluer than true life - the pendant has yellow tones in it in reality, and it was on some white card!).

In the afternoon I was watching the second Sarah Millsop show on C&C and she showed a variation of her Christmas decs as Napkin rings ........ well I had to have a go didn't I? On an earlier posting I showed a napkin ring, but Sarah showed how to do them using chenille sticks or ribbon - the inspiration I needed .....

Napkin rings and a tree decoration

and here are the rings individually plus a tree decoration (with apologies for the quality of the photos, as with the first one of the necklace - you would think taking them outside the colours would be more realistic - but my white napkins are looking blue! - must have been reflection from the sky! :-)

a beaded charm with starburst beads on a metallic pipecleaner

red beads and starburst beads on a red metallic pipecleaner

Brown version

pale turquoise version

a very quick Christmas tree decoration

I have a 25% off voucher for Hobbycraft that arrived by email earlier this week - so guess where I am off to later today - think some more of the starburst beads will be on the shopping list, in addition to the wool I need to see if they have in stock for my new grandchild-to-be's blankie!

Wonder how much else I will tempted to buy?

Mags

Template for A4 side spring card

2011-11-02T13:08:00.000Z

I thought I would add a quick guide to making my A4 size side-spring card. You can find the original tutorial on splitcoaststampers, but I made a bigger card than the one shown in their tutorial. Here is a link to the original tutorial, which has a video to help: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/sidespringcard/. So this is basically just showing you the measurements I used.

Template for A4 side spring card (not to size)

1. Start with an A4 piece of card. Trim the short side to 8" as indicated by the blue line. (just makes it easier for measuring!)

2. Next score down the length of the card at 4" - as indicated by red line. (mountain fold)

3. Turn the card and score at 4 and 5.1/2" along the long side - as indicated by the yellow lines. (valley folds).

4. I then tend to flip the card and then score again on the reversed side so it is easy to do the folds.

5. Fold the card along centre line so that is in half lengthwise and then score the two lines indicated by the turquoise lines, turn card over and go over the scoring. (You will find by doing this you can position the card on your score board and see where to score.

6. Go over the scored lines with your bonefolder etc to make the creases. The red and turquoise lines are mountain fold, and the yellow lines are valley fold. Gently fold the card, and you should now have the finished shape ready to decorate. (I tend not to decorate the inside, but add an insert.

The finished card will fit in a C5 envelope.

Hope this helps - once you have done the first one, and got the feel of the fold it is easy peasy. I have made the smaller size as per the original tutorial - see my little side spring Thank you card (which fits in a C6 envelope), but much prefer this size.

Mags

ps let me know if this helped and you managed to do the fold.

Cyclamen Side Spring Card

2011-11-01T20:35:00.002Z

cyclamen side-swing card

Yes I am sorry I am hooked on this side spring fold! I made this for a neighbour and friend of nearly 50 years, who is also a cardmaker - so I had felt this special birthday warranted me sending her a card with a special fold. I am hoping that she hasn't seen the fold before!

The cyclamen were some diecut decoupage that I have had for a while in my stash, and they are really pretty - the sheets come in a black and silver version and this version with gold embossing. I have used the silver version in the past, but the gold sheets have just been stroked until now! Matted and layered with brown/cream tones of papermania shimmer textured card stock, and I have used this again for the bottom trim of the main card with brown ribbon.

I really do like this shape of card, and am thinking of doing a much simplified version (i.e. without the fancy fold) but using the diamond shape on a plain folded card, and adding my Christmas toppers to it.

Thanks for looking.

Mags

Hair Comb, Napkin Ring and earrings!

2011-10-31T22:48:00.001Z

Well I have been playing again this afternoon. I made some matching earrings to go with the chain maille necklace:

chain maille earrings

and then I added a matching charm to the bracelet. It comes off quite easily so I have the option of a plain or "jazzed up" version.

bracelet with optional charm

This is now the complete ensemble:

I then decided to try and make some napkin rings and some wine glass charms (oops seem to have forgotten to take photo of the wine glass charms - will have to rectify that tomorrow!)

napkin ring

Some prepared bits for more napkin rings

and finally I tried my hand at a hair comb - think my eldest granddaughter will be wanting this!

Hair comb

Thanks for popping by.

Mags

Chain Maille Necklace

2011-10-30T18:28:00.001Z

Chaine Maille necklace

Well here it is the necklace to go with the bracelet. Quite a bit easier to make than the bracelet. I even made the stand so that I could photograph it. (I was about to throw out a cardboard box, and had a flash of inspiration, and remembered I had some black adhesive felt in my craft crocs stash!

For a first attempt at anything like this - I confess I am a bit chuffed and it will look lovely with my new black GOK dress! The only thing I found was that it wasn't really long enough for my neck - so just added a few more links at the back. Just need to create some earrings now to complete the ensemble - something simple with the pearls I think. I also might add a sort of pearl charm to the bracelet.

Mags

ps and I can report that my ankle is much better this evening. There was an almighty crack as I put my foot to the floor earlier, and suddenly I could walk on it. We think I must have dislocated something, and have manged to "relocate" it! Still a bit swollen, and stiff because of that, and looks like a bit of bruising coming out now, but I am so pleased to be able to stand on it.

Chain Maille Bracelet

2011-10-29T23:54:00.001+01:00

Stretchy Chain Maille Bracelet

This is my first attempt at a chain maille bracelet. It was a little more difficult than it looked when Sarah Millsop demonstrated it - or should I say a tad more fiddly. Need her to do some more shows so I can recap on the hints she gave (or search the recordings and see if it is still on the Skybox!). The white rings are made of rubber so the bracelet is "stretchy".

Some of you may know that I had a little "fall", or should I say trip over nothing yesterday, and have sprained/twisted my ankle and was feeling a bit sorry for myself, because I am in the middle of stripping wallpaper in the lounge, and this means everything is on hold for the moment; so I was pleased when my parcel arrived from Beader's Companion this morning with some bits to play with, including chain maille rings and an instruction book!

I needed this little cheering up as it looked as though I was going to be unable to venture into town today for our annual Autumn Festival, and join my daughter and granddaughter for our "annual ride" on the gallopers. I don't "DO" fairground rides as a rule, but I love the old fashioned steam carousel and its music - yes I am a big kid at heart, and could quite easily ride them all day! (When my mum was alive it used to be 4 generations up on the gallopers - she was 92 the last time she came with us!)

Well, I did manage to get there as my husband drove me down at lunchtime, as my daughter rang to say the local council are going to stop the Festival (it has been going about 15+ years) and if I wanted a ride I had better get down to town. Now you have to imagine the picture of this poor old girl on her crutches wanting to ride the gallopers! Still with the family's help I managed to get on the ride, and then again with their help, and the help of the lad taking the money on the ride, I managed to get off again - which is always the most difficult! We were chatting to the people running the Carousel, and they hadn't heard that this would probably be their last year. It will be such a shame if it ceases - the town was heaving with families all enjoying themselves.

So having ventured out on the dodgy ankle, I have been good for the remainder of the day and rested said ankle and played with my goodies!

Wearing the Bracelet

I have now started a chain maille necklace - which I can report is much easier than the bracelet - so with a bit of luck will be able to post a piccie of that tomorrow, and as I am "confined to barracks" as they say, I may even get to play with some other bits.

thanks for dropping by.

Mags

Gelatine Flowers

2011-10-27T11:06:00.000+01:00

Did anybody see the Kirstie's Homemade Britain programme last night, where she got to make Gelatine Flowers?

Well I have made these many times in the past as part of my sugarcrafting skills. So having watched the programme, I found some I made quite a few years ago, which were lurking in my cutlery drawer in the sideboard and took a photograph of them this morning.

As you can see these have a Christmas theme as I made them for my Christmas table all those years ago. They have lasted quite well as I think they were possibly made before 2004 as I am pretty sure my Mum was alive when I made them! (I really can't remember, but they are at the very least 5 years old!) I made the two colours one for the males and one for the females.

Christmas Rose and Holly

Poinsettia & Holly

They are extremely simple to make - and were made exactly as shown in the tv programme, so if you missed the programme - catch up with it on 4 on Demand.

Mine were actually made with cotton covered wire from my cake decorating stash - probably about 30 or 33 gauge by the looks of it. The Holly leaves were made by forming the wire around a holly cutter, and the christmas rose wire was wrapped around a small tube of food colour. The poinsettia shapes were more freeform. I prepared the shapes before dipping, but when they were dry I was able to give them some "life" with some gentle shaping before taping them together. The centres were just flower stamens from my sugarcraft stock, and the poinsettia ones were touched with a little red colouring.

Hope this has inspired some of you to try making the flowers - it's great fun and very easy. (There used to be a product many years ago that my daughter made flowers with called Fantasy Film - but I think using gelatine is even easier - and as you can see as they have been stored in a dry place (albeit amongst the "best" cutlery) they are still in one piece!

Mags

Brown Ensemble

2011-10-25T15:45:00.002+01:00

I took time off from stripping wallpaper last night and this morning to make this ensemble to go with a new jumper I had bought recently. I needed something in brown, and I had bought some bags of mixed beads in various colours at Sandown a couple of weeks ago. I used my my white and brown bags.

Inspired by Sarah Millsop's demos on C&C yesterday - this is what I made:

the complete ensemble

I started off with the necklace, and used these pretty beads as the foundation of my design. As you will see from the picture above, I also used Sarah's idea of making part of the chain with just eyepins.

close up of beads in the necklace

I also made a pair of earrings. Now I don't have pierced ears so I rarely get to wear dangly earrings, but I bought these earring findings at Sandown. They are the most comfortable earrings I have ever worn. Although you adjust them initially with the screw; they are in fact on a sprung hinge - fab!

close up of earring

and finally I made a charm bracelet to match. Ok so the base of the bracelet was a premade stretchy one, but a girl has to cheat sometimes! However, I did create all the charms on it. I even got a bit adventurous and managed some fancy wirework on one of them, having mastered the twirl on the end as demonstrated by Sarah.

The twirl

one of the charms with fancy wire work

and finally another of Sarah's ideas to attach a bead using an eyepin and wrapping it around the bead to make a "bail".

bead with eye pin bail

As you can see I have had great fun.

Mags

Chain Maille Flower

2011-10-21T17:12:00.001+01:00

Chain Maille Flower

I saw these little flowers on the Purple Moon Beads stand at Sandown last week, and fell in love with them. I bought some bits to make them, but couldn't quite get it right, and I had forgotten to take a photo.

I emailed them and asked if they had a photo they could send me or if they could put one up on the website. Geoff told me that they actually did some kits, (I hadn't seen those or would have bought them at Sandown - duh!) and that they would be at Farnham in November. I couldn't wait until Nov, so asked if I could buy a kit by mail. Geoff turned up trumps and put the kits on the website! I ordered them late Wed evening and they arrived this morning - brilliant service!

So voila, having done a bit of painting in the kitchen this morning, after lunch I sat and made this - didn't take that long, and was very easy with the instructions! My kit will make three of these, but I also have a packet of red petals that I bought at Sandown. They do loads of colours. If anybody wants to make them go to Purple Moon Beads website, and click on Tools and Accessories and then Kits.

Thanks for dropping by.

Mags

Birthday Card for a Special Friend

2011-10-20T17:41:00.001+01:00

Cream side spring card

I made this card today for the birthday of a special friend. Once again I have used the side spring design - think I am hooked on this fold at the moment, but I really wanted something a bit special. The fold is a little complicated at first sight - but with the hougie board it becomes quite simple.

Cardstock is cream pearlescent papermania card, and because of the way the fold works, the square is the plainer reverse of the card. Once again I have made the card bigger than the original tutorial.

The backing paper to the topper and the sentiment etc. are from my special craftwork cards paper stash! (which is normally just stash for stroking - lol!) The rose topper is one I painted myself on gold mirri card. I finished the card with my last butterfly from my stash, to compliment the rose, and some peel-off edging.

Hope you are liking this fold as much as I am. If anyone would like the measurements I used for the larger card just ask.

Thanks for popping by

Mags

Thank You Card

2011-10-20T17:26:00.001+01:00

Thankyou side spring card

As you can see another side spring card. This time done with the original measurements from the tutorial. This is just a simple Thank You card for the cousins that hosted the lunch after the recent funeral we attended.

Mags

Side Spring Card

2011-10-19T21:01:00.000+01:00

Well it is unusual for me to be at the forefront of trying out new shaped cards, but I had an email from Splitcoast Stampers this morning, and this afternoon I had to make a card for my daughter's wedding anniversary, so having watched the video tutorial on a Side Spring Card I set about making one for the topper I had put together.

straight on view

I didn't use the dimensions given in the tutorial, as the topper I made this morning would have been too large - so having worked out the principle I cut down and A4 sheet of card to 11.5 in x 8 " to make a larger card. (which still fitted quite easily into a C5 envelope).

This wasn't the first card I made, as the first one seemed so thick and the creases were very bulky to ended up making this card with 160 gsm card, which worked a lot better, and was firm enough to stand quite firmly.

The original decoupage was some that came from a magazine pull-out freebie, and was a Crafter's Companion decoupage. I used one of the other sheets of matching "paper ribbon" for the bottom of the card, and added peel-offs and jewels from my stash. OK my large circular topper covers up most of the diamond "spring", but hopefully you can get the gist of this new fold.

View showing the "spring" effect.

It certainly is a different type of fold and quite effective, and I might use it again in the original sizing for some of my Christmas cards.

Hope you like the new fold, and my interpretation.

Mags

Black & White & Heart

2011-10-14T17:17:00.001+01:00

Black & White + glass heart

I made this quickly on Wednesday as we had a family funeral to go to on Thursday, and I wasn't quite sure which outfit I was going to wear and I needed a necklace for one of them. (As it turned out didn't wear the outfit this was made for!). The picture I took when I made it really doesn't do it justice as the glass heart is absolutely gorgeous and really catches the light in real life.

I have just tried taking a couple more photos, and I think they show the heart more realistically. I bought this heart at the Sandown craft show a few weeks back, and absolutely fell in love with it. It is really heavy.

a slightly better photo

Close up of the glass heart

I am going to the beading show at Sandown tomorrow - so may well wear it to that!

As I mentioned we went to a family funeral yesterday, in Southend - a place I haven't been to since I was 10! (I have a photo taken at the end of the pier under the famous Bell with my Mum and Dad, just after my Dad came out of hospital that year, which is how I can date it!). Well I wasn't sure what to expect when after the funeral and spending a pleasant afternoon sitting in the garden catching up with distant rellies, whilst enjoying a fantatic buffet lunch, before heading home we drove along the seafront. Heck it is like other parts of the Essex coast I have visited - I call it the "Land that Time forgot". I suppose living near the South Coast and Brighton and Littlehampton, I was expecting something a bit like them, which always seem to be busy, even out of season, particularly as Southend is virtually the nearest resort to the East of London. I doubt that much has changed really since I was a kid. If we had been earlier with our "promenade" we might have made the effort to take the train down the pier for "old times sake". OK it was just after 5pm, and it was "Out of Season", but it was deserted, and not even dark enough for the "Lights" to be on which might have made a difference, and it didn't help that most of the promenade was edged by a concrete wall that prohibited you from seeing a lot from the car! Here are a couple of photos I took:

Southend Pier looking toward Kent

Southend Pier from the other side.

Mags

Route 66

2011-10-12T15:10:00.001+01:00

Route 66

Made this card for my nephew, and it was slightly out of my comfort zone. My mind was blank as to what to put on his card, but I remembered I had the Making Cards for Men Magazine so turned to that for inspiration. I saw this pump with Route 66 on it, and remembered that last year he did a road trip in the US, and I think he also travelled Route 66. I know he is going again soon - so the decision was made for me.

Pearlescent cardstock from my stash, and then all the elements were from the magazine sheets. The backing paper and the two toppers were matted on pearlescent papermania card, with the left-hand topper double matted. A peel-off was then added to the strip along the bottom.

As I said this design was a bit out of my comfort zone, as I tend to keep my designs much simpler, and I dread men's cards! but I am quite pleased with how it turned out.

A Pink Experiment

2011-10-10T20:28:00.001+01:00

Pink necklace with crocheted ribbon and silver wire

Well, inspired by Sarah Millsop's demo with swarovski crystals last week on C&C, I thought I would try and create something similar with the stash I had using cheaper beads. I didn't have any yarn, but had loads of ribbon.

The wire is threaded with the beads, and then crocheted adding the beads as you go. The ribbon was also crocheted together with some more wire. Unfortunately I don't think I made enough links in between the beads, so the finished strands were a little short. However, I had some chain in my stash, so improvised with that to get the required length.

The only thing that Sarah didn't show us on the programme was how to join/finish off the six strands each side and attach them to the clasp (or in my case - the chain). So I sort of improvised from what I had managed to see of the finished necklace on the show. It's not perfect by any means, but looks quite effective on, and one has to start somewhere, and as my Dad would have said "A blind man would be pleased to see it!! :-)

Mags

Sailing

2011-10-06T19:51:00.002+01:00

Sailing!

Male cards are always difficult, but I had a bit of inspiration with this one for my great nephew. I know he does a lot of sailing, and when we were at a family christening recently I took a photo looking across from Portchester Castle to Portsmouth. My g-nephews had earlier that morning been sailing across the inlet, and were saying how weird it was to be sailing within sight of where they would be later that day so .....

I converted one of my photos taken that day to all blue and used it as the background paper, which I matted onto blue card.. I copied the image and added the wording, and then cropped it so that I could raise it up on the original image, and match it to the skyline, but didn't create a mat for it. I wasn't sure what sort of yacht/dinghy he normally sails so I had to take pot luck with the main image, which was also matted onto blue cardstock, and mounted it on foam tape. Fortunately there were no markings on the yacht in the picture, so was able to just add the peel-offs to it.

When I recoloured the picture - I took the yacht image into MCS and colour matched the backing paper to part of the blue sky. The words were colour matched to the sea in the image.

I wonder if he will realise the significance of the background paper - I may have to tell him! (with a bit of luck - he may just recognised the Spinnaker Tower on the skyline!).

thanks for popping by.

Mags

Chocolate and Cream

2011-10-05T23:49:00.003+01:00

Chocolate and Cream

I was struggling with what to do for a card today for another crafter. I originally intended doing a painted topper, and actually got as far as painting it - but then I couldn't decide on a backing paper, layout etc - yes a crafting block! Searching my stash I came across a Craftwork Cards goody bag that I had bought at Farnborough and had hardly used - so painted topper was discarded and I played with some of the elements in the Goody bag.

I do love these colours - bit like scrumptious chocolates, and I confess one of my favourite colour combinations I just kept it simple - not exactly LIM (as there are four layers under the flower), but sort of going that way.

Thanks for looking

Mags

October Sunshine

2011-10-04T00:05:00.001+01:00

Had a lovely day today. It was our 41st Wedding Anniversary, and we decided to mosey out and enjoy the sunshine. It's not often that we do this these days as OH can't walk far; and let's face it this summer has been virtually non-existent. Any sunny days we have had I have grabbed in the garden playing with my Paint Fusion bit and bobs.

Isn't this setting fab!

We started the afternoon by lunching at one of our family's favourite little tea rooms. Fabulous little place, with a lovely garden with a stream meandering through it. Chickens, ducks and geese etc for visiting children to feed, plants for sale, free range eggs for sale, a little craft shop and fabulous food. Home-made cakes to die for! I had a really nice Brie & Bacon melt Salad, and OH had an all day breakfast, - the works plus toast and marmalade! (this is normally a firm favourite in the family). It was quite busy for a Monday in October! Obviously everybody was making the most of the sunshine.

Fisherman on Goring Beach

We then mosied down toward Worthing and along the coast road, stopping for a while at Goring:

Littlehampton River

And then we finally ended up at Littlehampton, and I had a little stroll along the Riverside and had my first icecream of the year!

Stroll in the sunshine!

Had to include this picture of a young swan who was taking a walk, alongside the river. This is him/her on

its way back, having gone to the pier and back!

Hope everybody else had a good day.

Mags

Thought I'd share ...

2011-10-02T17:02:00.001+01:00

this creation from my five year old granddaughter. You may recall that I mentioned that last weekend I introduced her to Paint Fusion, and painting with acrylic paint.

Well this was her first attempt at a rose and a some other flowers. I think for a first attempt for a five year old this is excellent (but then of course I am biased!)

First attempt under my guidance

Flower Compostion

She then went on to paint some more completely on her own, double loading the brush etc, I didn't even realise she had done this, as I was chatting to her mum! - Can see we have another prospective fusioneer in the pipeline.

Mags

Is it really 1st October!

2011-10-01T22:07:00.000+01:00

No crafting for me today. Spent the morning polishing and photographing family medals for eldest granddaughter's school project and then this afternoon/evening joined the rest of the family at my daughter's for a family bbq finishing off in the evening in the spa with my three granddaughters!

We seem to have consumed rather a lot of Pimms and sparkling Liebfraumilch - but what the heck - had to celebrate such a lovely day, (and it is my Wedding anniversary on Monday, so that was my excuse).

In the spa with my three granddaughters

Hope you are all enjoying this glorious weather.

Mags

Hand-painted Ruby Wedding

2011-09-30T09:29:00.000+01:00

Ruby Wedding Card

This card was made for some friends of ours celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary this weekend. I wanted to do something a little special, so I painted the roses using my acrylic paint fusion paints on some water colour paper, and mounted it on red silk mirri. Computer generated sentiment also mounted on mirri. I added two sorts of ribbon, some artificial roses, leaves and a little string of pearls in the arrangement. I used pearlescent cream cardstock for the base.

I also took a photo of the painting and use it on the insert as well.

Thanks for dropping by.

Mags

Reading, Gardening & Tap Dancing card

2011-09-29T00:35:00.000+01:00

This is the second request for a themed card from the same person as the sewing one. This time it was for readig, gardening and tap shoes.

Book Card

I decided to try and make the card like a book for the reading part. Once again pearlised card base, and I cut a curve at the base of the fold very slightly to create the shape of the spine. It's not perfect but it's different!

I used a couple of images from MCS for the roses backing paper and the violets, and picked out the colour of the violets for the main sentiment, and added some tap shoes. Using my hougie board I scored some lines for the spine, and the "pages", and also scored some curved lines, by embossing around a ribbon reel. I added gold peel offs to outline the spine and book, and then a Happy Birthday, letter and number peel offs, to sort of create a title, spell the person's name as a sort of author, and then added her birth year at the base of the spine. I used a gold promarker to go over the scored lines, as well as adding a few more for the pages.

Once again hope it meets with approval.

Mags

Reading, Sewing & Sudoku Card!

2011-09-28T11:56:00.001+01:00

This is the first of two unusual orders for cards I made yesterday. The recipient is into reading, sewing and sudoku. Hopefully it fits the criteria!

Sudoku, reading, & sewing!

Pearlised card stock as base card. I then googled some free images, for the button background, and the little toppers (found a fab site, but not sure that I bookmarked it - duh!). This was mounted on a beige pearlised papermania cardstock and edged with a rick-rack effect peel-off. The tape measure was actually part of the button image, and I cropped that, printed it separately, and added it as a ribbon. I also found some downloadable free sudoku grids, and with a careful bit of placement using Publisher, I managed to put the recipients name in the middle of the grid (glad it was only 5 letters long). I also highlighted some of the numbers to depict her year of birth. The sentiments were also computer generated, and mounted onto same beige cardstock, as were the little images.

Unfortunately I don't have any of Joanna Sheen's Haberdashery stamps, but I had some peel-offs relating to craft - so I used one of the scissors peel-offs and mounted a pencil one on some card.

Thanks for looking.

Mags

Sympathy Cards

2011-09-27T15:34:00.001+01:00

Following on from yesterday's post, here are two cards I made today for my two cousins.

Painted vellum card

Pearlescent 5 x 7 card. The Lily image (Art Impressions stamp) was stamped on vellum/parchment with stone grey Stazon, and then painted with my acrylic paints, and embossed from the underside. Mounted on to black silk mirri and some card-candi added as imitation brads. Computer generated sentiment, also mounted on black silk mirri.

This technique of painting with acrylic was a bit of an experiment, as I had seen one of the Paint Fusioneers do something similar with ivy on parchment, and it looks so effective, that I thought I would give it a go. Next time I try the technique, I will emboss the stamped image first, and take it from there.

Sympathy Card with Poppies

Again 5 x 7 pearlescent card, with a simple poppy stamped image (Penny Black Stamp) and computer generated sentiment, both mounted on purple silk mirri card, and a strip of purple flower ribbon added. (there isn't a smudge or a crease on the sentiment - looks like my camera lens needs cleaning!)

Mags

Granddaughter's Alice Band and Red Necklace

2011-09-26T23:53:00.001+01:00

I have been busy with the french knitting again today. The first item is another alice band for one of my granddaughters. I had made her a red one for school, but said I would make her another non-school one. I asked what colour she would like, and the reply was pink and blue and yellow! Well I said I couldn't do three colours, so her reply was to buy some rainbow wool! (5 year olds have all the answers don't they!) Anyway I didn't have any yellow, so made this pink and blue one, and then embroidered some white daisies on it. Hope it meets with her appoval!

Emboidered Alice Band

The second item is a necklace for one of the receptionists at our surgery. She had been admiring my necklaces on our various visits, so I promised to make her one. As I discovered that she is on duty tomorrow, I made this quickly for her today, together with a box, made as usual on the hougie board.

Red necklace and box

Finally, I am little sad tonight as I write this blog, as I learned that my mum's second cousin Lily (91) passed away tonight. We only knew her for 8 years. I made contact with her eldest daughter through genesrunited and my familytree research. We discovered that they only lived a few miles from us. With trepidation, my mum, my daughter and my eldest granddaughter and I made our way across to them. It was a very hot day, and the previous day, I had spoken to my cousin, and she said "Don't stand on ceremony as it is going to be so hot - we will be in shorts!" Well, shorts it was - and gosh was it hot, but it set the scene for a relaxed day, and, it was as though we had known each other for ever. My mum hadn't known the existence of this second cousin, but they had lived almost parallel lives. Lily could remember my mum's grandfather - her Uncle James - and had stories to tell about him, yet mum couldn't remember much about her grandfather as he didn't live that near them (although he didn't live that far actually!) But Lily and her family lived a few streets away from mum's grandfather.

It was so uncanny how alike Mum and Lily were, and as we chatted family traits came out, including the habit of tapping a finger when making a point. Apparently this stems from their great grandfather! I am afraid I do it, and so does my daughter, and so does my eldest granddaughter - don't know about the youngest granddaughters - haven't caught them doing it yet - so maybe it is a female line thing!

We visited a few times over the years, and when the family moved further away, we managed to see them a few times when we were holidaying in the area. She was a lovely lady, I was fortunate to have met her and her daughters. Rest in Peace Lily.

"The Glorious 12th - A Family Reunion"
(my mum is in the middle at the back, and Lily has my granddaughter on her knee in the front - you can see the family resemblance)

Mags

Fed Up! + use for a Flora Doodle!

2011-09-24T10:19:00.000+01:00

Feeling a tad fed up today as I should have been going to Ally Pally with my daughter, but she has such a mega workload to get through for school this week (a teacher's lot is not a happy one these days) that she felt that she really couldn't spare the time to go. Add to this the fact that my pal Sassie couldn't make it up either for the weekend. She was originally coming up to the show with us (fortunately she managed to get to Westpoint for her craft fix). It didn't help that we knew that the trains were all awry this weekend, and buses replacing trains for part of the journey, in addition to the fact that there was a collapse in a tunnel yesterday, which disrupted the London trains terribly. So am feeling down in the dumps.

At least the sun is shining, so maybe I shall sit out in the garden (if the gardening that needs doing doesn't nag me too much) and get the Paint Fusion out. Perhaps if it is really hot tomorrow as promised we will go for a drive to the coast!

My husband even tried to see how easy it would be for him to take me to Ally Pally in the car, but knowing how long I would be in the show, it would have been unfair of me to pursue the offer as he would have had to sit outside for such a long time.

Never mind there is always next year! Just unfortunate that I shan't be able to deliver the lime necklace in person! :-(((

Anyway I will lighten this post by adding a little smile. I managed to get a hole in my large patio door net curtain, and when I took it down to wash earlier this week, I decided to try and do something about it, thus putting of searching for a replacement to buy (which as we no longer have any curtain shops near us would mean a search on the net - no pun intended). My husband said you need a butterfly or something on it - well craft stash came to the rescue and I attached a flora doodle flower - the result was brilliant. Now wondering whether to add some more ........ ! and at least the temporary "fix" gives me time to try and find a replacement, though to be truthful I am not rushing as I rather like the effect! Maybe I could set a new trend!

Daisy repair!

Mags

Lime Necklace

2011-09-23T15:18:00.000+01:00

Lime Necklace

My latest creation is a lime green necklace for a crafty lady. The bead was a white wooden one from my stash, so I painted it with acrylic paints, and varnished it to match. I also made a box for it., using my Hougie Board. Yes lime green again. The recipient very much likes lime green - you may be able to guess by the colour who the recipient is. She knows I am making one for her, as the choice of colour was her request, when I spoke to her at Sandown last week. I can't wait to see her face when I give it to her at Ally Pally.

Necklace in box

The personalised box

Have any of you guessed who the recipient is? There is a clue in the posting.

Thanks for popping in.

Mags

Necklace and Headbands

2011-09-22T18:31:00.000+01:00

Ribbon necklace

Another of my ribbon necklaces. My daughter asked for one in sort of beige and browns, and I found this glass pendant at Sandown and thought it would be just the thing! I also bought some gold findings for it at our local craft shop.

I also knocked up three headband covers for my granddaughters with double knitting wool instead of ribbon - the blue and red ones are to match school uniforms, and the purple one is for the two year old. I made them on the largest setting of my wheel, and then threaded through some cheap headbands that I bought in Poundland.

Headbands for Granddaughters

Thanks for dropping by

Mags

Finished Origami Flower Ball

2011-09-21T22:11:00.000+01:00

Finished Origami Flower Ball

Well here it is - the finished ball, all stuck together and varnished. It was a bit difficult to find somewhere to hang it where I could get a good photo - so decided on the hanging basket hook outside the front door, so there was a fairly plain background behind it. It was quite a challenge to make it, but I am pleased with the result!

Work in Progress Part 2

2011-09-21T13:20:00.001+01:00

One half of the Origami Flower Ball

As you can see I am getting there slowly - this is half of the ball stuck together and drying. The other side is also drying, so with a bit of luck I should be able to put the two sides together later today! As you can see I have it sitting on my Hougie Board - and as this is the imperial measurement side - you can see that the ball measures about 9" across.

Mags

Work in Progress!

2011-09-20T17:06:00.001+01:00

Origami Flowers

Whilst at Sandown I saw a stall with a lovely display of japanese origami flower balls, and was really impressed with the effect. Having bought most of what I wanted at the show, I passed the stall again on my way out, and decided to buy some origami papers for the granddaughters. However, as I wasn't sure I would remember how to make the flower balls, I treated myself to a kit (complete with instructions).

These are the first two completed flowers, I have another 10 to make! However, I have now finished folding and gluing the individual segments. So hopefully tonight I can start to assemble the other 10. It takes a while for the glue to dry, so don't think I shall be assembling the two sides until tomorrow. (I am thinking of cheating and used double-side tape for that part!)

Mags

crafting fix!

2011-09-18T17:58:00.000+01:00

My husband was an angel and took me to Sandown today - never been before. He sat in the car in the sunshine, whilst I went and spent his money! I thought I was getting around the show really quickly until I discovered my watch had stopped!

It wasn't very busy, although the stall holders said they had been busy - so probably those that were there, were there to spend! It was nice though as the stall holders had time to talk to you and be helpful. I was looking for large beads or similar to go on my ribbon necklaces, and in particular the owner of BeadSpider was really helpful.

I bought a couple of new things to try - so watch this space! I also treated myself to a glass cutting mat - as there was a very good show offer on!

Mags

Butterflies

2011-09-17T14:45:00.000+01:00

Butterfly card

I love this image from Joanna Sheen's Jane Netley Mayhew Collection Part 2 CD, and it seemed just right for an autumn birthday. The matching backing paper was imported into Publisher and the sentiment added. (To get the right colour for the sentiment, I imported the main image into MCS and picked out a colour for the wording that I wanted to match the butterfly; took a note of the RBG numbers and changed the colour in Publisher accordingly). Although you can't see it I also highlighted a few bits with clear sakura stardust.

As I mentioned before I am trying to use up some stash, so once again some peel-offs added as finishing touchs, in addition to revisiting some of my older CDs!

Painting again!

2011-09-16T19:57:00.001+01:00

Well it was another sunny day today, and I just had to take advantage of it and do some more painting out in the garden.

I managed to get all the coasters varnished - they look great. I have tried various varnish/sealant mediums for acrylics, and I must say the one from Crafty Crocodiles gets my vote, it is a lovely consistency, touch dry in less than 30 mins. Yes I know I do samples for them, but their acrylic satin varnish is really fantastic, and really brings out the colours, and as it is water based, it washes out of the brush very easily. It says it is weather resistant, so think I shall be sealing my painting with it when I paint my hanging baskets. Here is a link if you are interested:

http://www.craftycrocodiles.co.uk/crafting-pens-c30/acrylic-satin-varnish-p272 I used their one stroke wash brush to apply it - lovely coverage - glad I invested in it!

Right that is the end of the useful information - back to what I achieved today!

Artificial Candle

This is a candle I bought in the Pound Shop - it is an imitation one which takes batteries, so thought I would "give it a whirl" as the saying goes. According to the wrapper it is supposed to have a vanilla fragrance! What will they think of next? The Holly leaves stamp was one of Sheena Douglass's Paint Fusion Christmas Stamps. Not sure I have done justice to the holly - looks more like oak leaves to me! More practise need on holly leaves!

Shade of Grey Candle

This was an experiment using shades of grey on a small candle I bought from Sainsbury's - completely freehand painting on this one.

Ball-shaped candle

Another candle using Sheena's Christmas stamps. Although I forgot there was a stamp for the fircones, and did those freehand! Not sure where I got the candle - think it was Sainsbury's again. That's the trouble with sneaking stuff into the trolley with the food shopping!

Ceramic Candle holder

I couldn't get a very good photo of this candle holder, which has pink and white free-hand roses and leaves on it with pale blue sprays of dots. This was an unvarnished candle holder, and I used the Crafty Crocs varnish on it to seal it. I think I bought the holder in Wilkinsons, don't think it was the Pound Shop.

Side 2 of Fan

and finally I painted the reverse side of a fan that I started back in August. I had been putting it off, as it was a bit of a nightmare to paint with all the folds - but it has turned out quite well. The background is blue pearlescent acrylic from Craft Crocs, and the roses are white and pink pearlescent paint (the pink is a Docrafts one I bought at the Glitter Pot recently. You may recall the other side of the fan that I painted ......

Side 1 of Fan - Paint Fusion Poppies on pearlised turquoise that I created mixing paints

I hope you have enjoyed my little selection. Thanks for looking.

Mags

Card for a Horse Lover

2011-09-16T13:08:00.002+01:00

Another simple card with an image from Joanna Sheen's Furry Friends CD - Miscellaneous section, with a complimentary backing paper of Horseshoes from the same CD.

I have kept the card fairly flat and simple as it has to go to France. I also used some of my peel-offs from my stash. I am having a guilt complex about all the stash I have, so trying to be good and use it! The flowers were done with an ek punch on paper created from the blue in the image, so that they matched exactly, and some gems added - again using up some stash!

Mags

Coasters

2011-09-15T20:31:00.001+01:00

The Four Sets

The weather today has been glorious again, and having done all the gardening yesterday, I spent a lot of the day sitting outside painting these coasters. (I had already done the background painting a few weeks ago). I have to do it outside as I seem to make so much mess in the process! You would think by now that with the practise I have been getting, I would have got a lot better at Paint Fusion, but I felt today that I was going backwards!

They all need to be varnished and the edges painted, which I shall probably do with gold/silver pens, although I do have some acrylic pens that may do the trick if I the colours I have compliment the colours of the coasters.

Here are a few close-ups of the four sets:

Pink and White Rose

White Daisy

Pink and White Clematis

Mixed Selection: Daisy, Fir Cone, Christmas Rose
Clematis, Poppy and Yellow & White Rose

I am now keeping my fingers crossed that it will be fine again tomorrow - I think they have forecast a little rain very early and then sun again. I can then give them all a couple of coats of varnish, and I have some candles and other bits I want to paint.

Thanks for popping by.

Mags

ps for Rita - the coasters are wooden ones with cork backing from Crafty Crocodiles.

Old Aeroplanes

2011-09-14T22:11:00.004+01:00

The image for this simple card came from Joanna Sheen's Nostalgia CD. The recipient is my old boss, and godfather to my son. Heaving spent most of his working life working in aviation, I couldn't resist these old aeroplanes. It reminded me of our jaunts out to Farnborough and Biggin Hill for the Air Shows whilst I was working for him. (ok - perhaps we didn't see quite so many old planes on those occasions - but I do have a love for the old planes.)

The matching backing paper was imported into Publisher, and the sentiment added, and the image was mounted on foam tape.

Mags

christenings

2011-09-13T23:55:00.005+01:00

Spent a lovely day on Sunday at Portchester Castle. Even if my brother-in-law made me walk around the ramparts in heels! (thank goodness for the third leg - aka my stick). Would love to visit again, but next time will wear my trainers. i have never been to Portchester before, and the Castle is a beautiful spot and well worth a visit (parking is free too - so even if you didn't want to go into the castle, there are some lovely views).

The watergate near the Church

The occasion was the christening of my great great nephew, in the little church in the grounds of the castle, and unbeknown to me his mum, aunt and uncle were also being christened at the same time, which made it rather special. Nearly all my family were there - just one nephew missing who is now living up north, and my husband, who was not feeling so good, just as well as he didn't come as there was a bit of walking involved, which is beyond him these days.

View from the Watergate across to the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth

This is a picture from the Portchester Castle Website, which I have included so you can see part of the castle and the proximity to the water. For History buffs, the Castle was one of Richard II's palaces.

Mags

Gift Tag

2011-09-10T12:50:00.004+01:00

Just a little something today. I created this gift tag to go on a Christening present. It was one of those happy accidents - in the mess that was on my dining table, were some stamps that came with some goody bags, that I had extracted, but hadn't put away. Having wrapped the present I thought better make a gift tag - and this stamp just sat there shouting at me.

Stamped with versamark and embossed in silver, then coloured with Sakura stardust pens. Don't know about you, but with the advent of promarkers etc, the old Sakura seem to have got overlooked - although I do use the clear stardust on a regular basis for highlighting, but rarely use the coloured ones these days. I edged the card with cool aqua promarker.

I can see this stamp being used quite a bit more - not only for gift tags (wouldn't it look good in Christmas colours?) but also for cards, particularly coloured with promarkers - yes the brain cell is working overtime!

Mags

Bit chuffed today! - Updated

2011-09-08T10:37:00.006+01:00

As some of you know I have been playing with various products from Crafty Crocodiles for samples for their catalogues. Well I haven't seen the latest hard copy Autumn catalogue yet so don't know exactly which of my samples have been included, but browsing their website I found one of my samples shown!

http://www.craftycrocodiles.co.uk/fun-with-wood-c17/wooden-wardrobe-style-jewellery-box-p26

To say I am a little chuffed is an understatement. I had so much fun painting this. It was crackle finished to start with, and then because of the small scale I stamped the rose and leaves using a couple of Joanna Sheen's pressed flower stamps for the doors as a guide for the painting. The drawer was painted using one of Sheena Douglass's techniques for quick roses.

Mags

Update: New catalogue arrived this morning - have been playing "Spot which samples I made" whilst drinking my coffee! ;-)

Blogger seems to be playing up big time ! so Apologies ......

2011-09-07T17:18:00.000+01:00

... to my followers and also the blogs I follow. I am having a lot of problems at moment. (I can't even see who is following me at the moment! - even if I go to Dashboard - can see how many there are - but who they are, I have no idea!) and I have tried to comment on a few blogs, but I keep getting you are not allowed to post error message! Even when I sign in to my own blog, if I want to do anything I have to sign in again! Duh goodness know what is up with Blogger at the moment. So mega apologies if I cannot comment on your blog.

hugs
Mags

Father Christmas Designs

2011-09-07T17:00:00.001+01:00

Well this is the other half of the earlier posting that wouldn't load properly! Let's hope I have more success this time. The first one shows the white image, and the others I have coloured the image with promarkers - I may tweak the coloured ones by adding some "snow" effect or white flowersoft on Santa's beard etc.

Made 3 variations of this white one with the Hougie Board cross embossing and different embellishments

and finally in this selection one of the Word toppers

and a Forever Friends card made with a ready made topper from a Docrafts Goody Bag

Bauble Designs

2011-09-07T16:50:00.001+01:00

Well I made another 15 christmas cards yesterday! The Hougie Board got a bit of use as well. This one and the following bauble ones were all coloured with promarkers.

Well blogger is playing up and won't let me add them properly - so shall put the next lot on separately!

Christmas Cards 2

2011-09-06T16:16:00.000+01:00

Well here are rest of the cards I made yesterday. These were all made using the ready coloured toppers from the Kanban kit. As you will see the cuttlebug has been in use too, and again my stash of peel-offs has been raided.

I tend to keep the majority of my Christmas cards simple and not too layered. Mainly because most people don't treasure them quite the same as hand-made Birthday cards, and I am too mean to pay the higher rate of postage when I have so many to post! (My mother would have said that this is my Scottish ancestry creeping in - although I haven't proved any yet - but my husband does have Scottish Ancestry and he is the keeper of the purse strings! ) :-) However, I shall make some more elaborate ones for close family and friends, and for those which are going to be hand-delivered!

I spent yesterday evening really enjoying myself sitting and colouring in the uncoloured toppers with my ProMarkers - so more of those tomorrow.

Thanks for popping in.

Mags