Giving up blogging

 Well after 13 years I have made the decision to give up blogging. It has changed so much since I first started blogging. Then there was no Facebook or Instagram and I used to blog daily as did many other bloggers. I visited lots of blogs for inspiration and received lots of visitors and comments in return.  Now I see most people’s work on Facebook.

I also used to be part of challenge DTs and participated in challenges. I haven’t done either of those for several years now as they are too time consuming. Writing blog posts also takes a lot of time which I would rather spend crafting as so few people are seeing my posts.

I have thought of it a few times so today will be my last blog post. I am getting to grips with Instagram. I learnt how to set up my blog so I am sure I can navigate my way around IG. I am trying to find people on there. If you leave me a comment with your IG name I will find you. Mine is mariannes_craftroom.

Thanks to everyone who has followed my blog and especially the regular commenters. I see many of you on Facebook and will hopefully see more of you on IG.

Sewing Rita

I was asked to make a large card for our former line dance teacher.  She has given up one class and is thinking of retiring from her other class so is having a small party.  She also sews and sells at craft fairs.  I was wondering what to use for the card when I came across this image in my file of printed images.  I have enough images printed and stamped to make hundreds of cards.

This is a Pink Gem Designs coloured image called Sewing Rita.  I used some old Craftwork Cards paper.  I used to love Craftwork Cards and always bought from them at shows.  I think the denim ribbon came from The Range and matched the papers so well.  The burgundy lace is from Crafty Ribbons.

I used the Daisy Mae torn edge stitched oval die again, flowers from Wild Orchid, a Joy leaf die and butterflies from Poundland from a few years ago.

Yet more decoupage

I have been decoupaging some different items. I bought some glass vases and plant pots.

I used a different technique on this one, cutting out the individual cupcakes.

 I have also been making some cards and just need time to get onto the laptop to add the watermark and add to my blog. I do find it harder to find time for blogging and wonder whether to continue but there are a few visitors to my blog who don’t do Facebook. I get a lot more interest, likes and comments on Facebook though especially as there are several crafting groups on there. I have also noticed a lot less blog posts in my reading list, even from people who used to blog most days. For the moment I will carry on blogging.

More decoupage

A few hearts I decoupaged the other day.  The wine napkins were some I bought on holiday along with the sweet pea ones.  

A couple more hearts and an odd plaque I found in my stash.

Card-io wreaths

Some more wreath cards made with Card-io stamps.  The first two are for orders and the bottom one will be going to Prima Rosa to restock along with some others I need to make as they are selling well there.

 

Cross stitched house

This was made for another friend for her Birthday.  I used another of the small kits I bought recently.  I love this design and will definitely be making it again as I think it would make a lovely new home card or picture.  I made a frame using dies from The Works and added a bow and some flowers.

 

Paper pieced sneak peek

Another sneak peek of the new digis coming on 21st June from Lili of the Valley.  This one is party balloons and as soon as I saw her I thought paper piecing.  When I paper piece digis I cut the paper to 15cm x 10cm and place it in the rear feeder of my printer.  I pieced the balloons and her dungarees.  As the blue balloon printed with spots I used a white gel pen on the spots.

The ribbon is from The Range and I used various dies and some paper scraps to make the flowers.

Planning to do some gardening today, just some tidying and weeding.  We bought some new plants the other day too so they need planting.  We wanted to wait until after that very hot day on Friday before we planted them so have kept them well watered.  Thank goodness it was only one day of 32 degrees as we both hate it and it makes it so hard to get anything done.

 

Cross stitched bicycle

I bought some small cross stitch packs recently and have been busy stitching them to make into cards.  This one was made for a friend.  They are lovely little kits but the frustrating thing is that there is plenty of some colours and not quite enough of some. I always photocopy and enlarge the picture to work by as it is small.  It also means I can mark off my stitches on the photocopy and keep the original to use again.

I made a frame using stitched dies and kept it simple with some flowers picking up the colours from the cross stitch and tiny pearls.

 

Vases

 I decided to do some decoupaging yesterday afternoon and these are two of the items I made. It is the first time I have used a glass vase and I am really pleased with how it turned out. The sweet pea napkins are Emma Bridgwater which I found in Portmeirion. They had some beautiful things in their shop and I loved a big jug with foxgloves on it but at £54 I thought it too expensive so bought these napkins and a £3 fridge magnet which is a nice reminder of our visit.

Sneak peek number 2

As I said yesterday there are some lovely new digis coming soon at LOTV.  This is the velociraptor from the dinosaur set.  I know dinosaurs are very popular with young boys.  I coloured him with Copics and used a stitched die from The Works.

The papers are MME lime twist, more old papers which I am trying to use up.  I kept it simple just adding some twine.

I find myself looking for pretty napkins everywhere I go now and bought some on holiday.  I am planning on some decoupaging with them this afternoon as Graham is going to watch the powerboat racing.  He has given up the volunteering for various reasons but is enjoying going to watch and chat to people at the club.  So, he won't be going every week but when he does, I get some crafting time.

 

Sneak peek

It fet so good to get back into the craft room yesterday after doing the last of the holiday ironing. What better way to start than with some cute new LOTV digis. There are some girls and boys, dinosaurs and driving dogs. This one is number 7.

I enjoyed getting my Copics out again and diecut the image with a Daisy Mae torn edge stitched rectangle die.  The papers are Docrafts Mr Mister which I am trying to use up.  I used a MFT pierced banner die to add some interest and a sentiment from LOTV.

Precious moments

A simple Anniversary card made for some friends.  I used a lovely new coloured simply print from Lili of the Valley called Precious Moments.  The sentiment is from The Works and I used some old paper and bunting.  The torn edge stitched die is from Daisy Mae.

I am planning to get some crafting done today and have some new LOTV images printed ready to colour.

 

Home from Holiday

 I have had a break from blogging this week as we have been away on holiday in North Wales. 

This was our accommodation which is in the grounds of the owner’s house. It was so comfortable and peaceful. There were lovely views of the garden from the lounge and we enjoyed watching the birds and squirrels.

We had a mix of weather, with it being cold and wet one day and hot and sunny another. We had two trips on steam trains, visited Llandudno, Bodnant Gardens and Portmeirion, somewhere I have always wanted to visit. We were lucky that it was a gorgeous sunny day when we went there.

This was a steep tram ride at Llandudno which took is up to the top of The Great Orme.

Portmeirion

Bodnant Gardens

We will be home late afternoon today and I look forward to crafting next week and catching up with blogs

Gingerbread

 I really must get some Christmas cards made but in the meantime I sewed these two cute gingerbread folk, I bought the kits from Crafty Ribbons, added my own bow to the boy and blanket stitched around the edges rather than running stitch as per the instructions. Although blanket stitch takes longer I think it gives a more professional look. The paper templates in the kits will be useful to make more of these for Christmas craft fairs.

Happy Anniversary Graham

Today is our Wedding Anniversary and this is the card I made for Graham.  He really liked the cards I made recently using the tree stencil and stamps from Card-io so I made this one.  The previous one I made had hares so this time I used the couple on the fence.  

I bought some more distress oxides as I find they work so well with the stencil and are much quicker and easier to blend than using small stamp pads.  I used a black fineliner to add some definition to the tree and a white gel pen on the flowers and fence. 

We have something special planned for today which I will tell you about another day.

 

Football

Janet at Pink Gem has released a set of football digis so I decided to use some of them for a commissioned card.  I created the red square in Word and then inserted the 4 coloured digis. and added a sentiment before printing.  The papers are some old Docrafts Mr Mister and I added some Scrabble letters.

 

Flowers and butterflies

Not too much to say about this one as it is another wreath card which a friend asked me to make.  She wanted one with no sentiment so I added the lovely butterflies to the centre.

I need to sort out some of my decoupaged items to take to Prima Rosa today as my next craft fair isn't until 26th June so she may as well have some in her vintage tearooms/shop to sell for me.

 

Some new items

 Some of my latest decoupaged items.  I am enjoying making these so much and glad that people liked them so much at Saturday’s event. I am taking some into Prima Rosa tomorrow where I am hoping they will sell well.

Yesterday

 Yesterday we did an event in a church hall 5 minutes drive away from home. It was only for two hours yet I took the most I have taken so far this year! I saw it advertised on Facebook so asked if I could have a stall. They were selling plants, second hand books, refreshments and myself and another lady selling crafts. It was well supported and the people were very friendly.

My new decoupaged items were much admired and a group of three ladies were intrigued as to how I make them. One of them took my card and said she would be contacting me as they make great presents. I sold the lilac vase to somebody wanting a new home present.

I can’t resist books and although I have about 50 to read bought a couple there. We were home by 12.30 and had a relaxing afternoon before collecting friends to go out for a meal and a show at the theatre.

Today we are planning to do some tidying in the garden as the weather should be dry though only 12 degrees. Still we prefer that to the heat.

Caravans

 I have been busy with so many crafts lately. I recently finished a small cross stitch which I need to make into a card for a friend. I have been cardmaking and doing some more decoupaged items.

I bought some things in Crafty Ribbons sale including a couple of packs of felt caravans to make, the materials and templates are in the packs, I just had to add thread and some gingham ribbon for hanging as they are meant to be keyrings or handbag charms. I think they are too big for that so wanted to make them into hanging ornaments. I thought they would make a cute gift for anyone with a caravan. 

I showed them on Facebook and a friend bought one immediately for her caravan.

 Crafty Ribbons sale has some great savings. I bought some felt packs to make Christmas decorations, felt packs, lace offcuts and some grosgrain ribbon. Free postage if you spend £15 too.

Dave

I was asked to make a Father's Day card for somebody who likes beer and sport.  I remembered I have this coloured Birthday squares image from Pink Gem and thought it would be perfect. I used Mr Mister papers and fussy cut the rosette and tags adding some small buttons.

 

Time for a wreath card

Another commissioned card and another wreath.  I haven't made one for a while and I do love making them.  I was asked for blue, turquoise and purple with a friend's sentiment.  I used lots of different Card-io stamp sets for this one.  Making the wreaths is such fun building up the flowers and leaves.  Knowing when to stop is the trick!

 

Beer and ivy

Another commissioned card today for my regular customer.  They seem to have a lot of male friends who like beer so I bought the last orders set from Car-io when I placed my last order.  I really need more inspiration for using it but thought as there are some leaves in the beer set I would team it with the ivy stencil.  I think it works ok but not over the moon with this one. Hope she likes it.

 

Andy with tablet

Thank you for your lovely comments on my hearts. I couldn't believe I sold them a few minutes after showing them on Facebook. Another friend wants a hedgehog one for her Mum. 

Janet at Pink Gem asked the former DT for ideas for new images and somebody suggested children playing with tablets so her is Andy with tablet.  I used the coloured digi for speed as I have a lot to make at the moment.  I used some old Lawn Fawn papers, Daisy Mae torn edge stitched rectangle die and a Fiskars tag punch.

We are going out for the day today, starting with a breakfast at our favourite cafe in Wroxham and the to some gardens which have lots of azaleas and rhododendrons and also a classic car show today.  We haven't been to these gardens for so many years so looking forward to it. It is so nice to see places open again and events planned for the year.

 

Hearts

 I love my new hobby and bought some more napkins and ceramic items. These are the hearts I did yesterday.  I showed them on Facebook and sold them immediately. I have made some cards too so will be sharing some soon.

Meeting friends for lunch today at a local garden centre and buying some plants. We planned to do some gardening this morning but it looks like it may rain. The garden needs it but it could wait until we have tidied the garden.

Our garden

 This morning I plan to get into the craft room and make some cards. In the meantime here are a few photos from our garden. The first roses are out and this one has huge flowers which smell amazing. 

Ready for today

I haven’t made any cards this week but have been busy making these. I am at Dunelm today with my stall inside the shop. A very new experience and no other crafters to compete with. Let’s hope Dunelm’s customers like my things.

I do like trying new crafts and I am really loving this one.