Gift Tag

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

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 ......

... 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

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

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

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

Christmas Cards

It is horrible weather here today so I got out the POD Kanban kit I bought the other week and shared with my daughter, and I have made a start on my Christmas Cards, having first finished blanching the last of 8 lbs of beans that a pal gave me!   

Have only managed seven cards so far - (so only another 143 to go!).  I think this is because a) I had to get in a "Christmas" frame of mind and b) because I tend to use up my A6 card blanks I had to think on smaller scale.    I have never used a kit before, so getting to grips on how to use the toppers when there is so much choice was another factor.  I also have lots of "bits and bob" like peel-offs and ribbons etc, which I need to be good and use up.  (Mind you I bought some new Christmas sentiment tags last week - and do you think I can find them - looks like they might get used next Christmas if I find them!  Hope I didn't throw them out -  I know where all the other things I bought that were in the bag are! - looks like a rummage in the cupbaord under the stairs to see if the shop's plastic bag is in there!))

So here are the first two, using different sizes of the same image.

Front of card run through the cuttlebug. Medium sized image and a bit of complimentary ribbon, and some peel-offs.

Green leather effect cardstock.  One of the smallest toppers from the same topper sheet, mounted on a piece of white card which has been run through the cuttlebug.  Gold pen around the white card.  Peel-offs and one of the sentiments from the kit added.

Will share some more of today's creations tomorrow.  Now going to get out the promarkers and have fun colouring the plain toppers - that will probably require the brain cell to work even more trying to decide what colours to use! lol!

Mags

Christening Card

Well it was back to card making today, having had yesterday off with my daughter and family on a bit of retail therapy (not of the crafting kind) spending some vouchers I had, and also wandering around the stalls and demonstrations on the "Big Nibble" weekend in our town.  Lovely afternoon, but a tad tired last night.

It is my great, great nephew's Christening on Sunday, and it has taken me an age to come up with the card.  I won't tell you how many images and layouts I played with.  I decided most of them were too fussy, and ended up with this one which I hope has a "Less is More" feel to it.  I didn't want it too babyish as he is eight months old now.

White linen finish card stock as base card (although it looks cream in the photo), which I have trimmed with a fancy edge and silvered.  The same treatment has been given to the backing card, and the topper, which is mounted on foam tape.   I added a couple of lines of pale blue ribbon, and overwrote the silver lettering with a clear sakura sparkle pen, to make it shine, as well as adding a few highlights to the teddy image.  Finished off with a silver cross peeloff.

Mags

2 Necklaces and A Pair of Earrings

Dawnywol and Ikklewol called in this afternoon, as Dawn decided she wanted a break from school work and wanted to make some key charms with some beads we bought back in Feb at Farnborough!  Knowing I had already made one for myself and created another one with Ikklewol some time ago she wanted me to show her how to make them.  So we sat in the sunshine and she made two; so she can now make loops!   (sorry no piccies of those).  Ikklewol designed them but Dawny made them as Ikklewol didn't have the strength to make the loops.

I eventually managed to start on another memory wire necklace -  for her.  Didn't quite finish it before they had to dash off to Ikklewol's swimming lesson, and Ikklewol said she would like one in purple!  So once they had gone, I sat down and finished the turquoise one, and made a purple one as well.  As I had a few of the turquoise beads left I made Dawn a pair of matching earrings.  

I must buy some earring findings - I have a few clip on type from when I have converted bought pierced sort so that I can wear them.  However, I was very good and saved the findings from the bought earrings so was able to use those!  As I don't have pierced ears I shall have to do some research to find out what the most popular design is for pierced earrings - looks a bit of a minefield out there!

Looks as though my granddaughter is going to keep me busy making jewellery for her!   Dawn has gone out tonight to a baby shower party, wearing the black and silver ribbon necklace I made her - which if I say so myself looked absolutely fab on her!   Wonder if she will come home with some orders????????

Thanks for dropping by.

Mags

Orange Memory Wire Necklace

Inspired by my pal Sassie's memory wire necklace, I thought I would have a try at making one.   This is my second attempt!  My first one used the same beads, and I tried to incorporate some of the design ideas on Beader's Companion web site, but wasn't happy with the way it sat on my neck.!  So it all got taken apart and remade.  Not sure I am completely happy with it even now - so it might get remade yet again - what's a bit of memory wire between friends - and nothing ventured nothing gained!

Here is piccie of me wearing the necklace (I have attempted to crop most of my scraggy old neck out of the picture - LOL!).

Mags

update -  Following a visit from my daughter I amended necklace slightly and just left the 5 large danglers and took out the two back danglers!