A new purchase

For those who don’t know this is a needle minder for cross stitch. I had never come across them before seeing them on some cross stitch groups on Facebook. They have a powerful magnet behind the image and a second magnet which goes behind the material. When sewing a small cross stitch hoop I keep the needle minder on card. I am finding it so useful. Sometimes it is the little things that please us isn’t it. I found this one on Ebay where there are so many to choose from but as you may know I love Pooh bear so had to choose this one which is from an independent craft seller and only cost £2.85.

SELFIE!

Who decided to change things about Blogger and not tell me? If I click new post then it looks the same but when I do it through the post layout it is completely different. I am getting used to it but like many of us I don't see why they have to change things that are working perfectly well.

Anyway it's anoher Christmas card, yay. This is a fin image from Pink Gem which I coloured with Copics and used the same papers as yesterday. I used Stickles on the snow and bobble hat and found the sentiment in my stash. I used one of only two dies I have bought since lockdown.  It is a lattice fence from MFT and as it had a huge discount and I love using fence dies I had to buy it. The snowflake garland is a die I bought in January half price from The Works.

Snow angel James

I really got back into colouring yesterday and finished off colouring James snow angel which has sat on my desk for a couple of days half done. I coloured him with copics and added some fun flock.  I teamed him with Your Next Stamp Winter plaid papers and a LOTV sentiment. I found the striped wooden tree in my stahs, coloured a wooden snowflake with a sparkle pen, added some enamel dots and used MFT pierced fishtail dies for my banners.

We are planning to visit a different garden centre this afternoon for a change as we need more plants. The garden is looking really good and the roses are doing very well so far, more flowers and bigger blooms than usual

Commissioned 21st card

I haven’t been in the craft room for a couple of days but I do have an image half coloured sitting on my desk. So today I plan to get back in there and get some cards made. I have been cross stitching though so still crafting.

I love Wee Stamp images and have a few of the coloured Hobby House toppers of them. I was asked to make a 7" 21st card and love the colours of this image which go so well with the Craftwork Cards papers. I used Hunkydory Moonstone flower dies with added pearls.

Scruffy Edward

I love the stamp of Scruffy Edward so when I saw that he was available as a cross stitch pattern I had to buy him.  I really loved stitching him, the easiest one I have done so far from the Little Stitchery, the cross stitch shop of LOTV. I used similar colours to the pattern for this one. It just needs framing now.

It seems funny that it is a Bank Holiday again on Monday when one day is much like another at the moment for those of us who don't work. We won't be going far as usual, just a click and collect order at Tesco on Monday. The beach scenes last weekend were horrendous. I can't believe that so many people are ignoring the social distancing advice. I would love a walk on the beach but not with those crowds. Stay safe everyone x

Finally, another Christmas card

Well I think I have made less Christmas cards so far this year than I usually have by now. You would expect it to be more really but hopefully that will soon change. I haven't done any colouring for a couple of weeks but have mainly been using some of my stash of toppers and coloured digis. I have only bought a couple of dies during the lockdown as I really want to use a lot of the stuff I already have.

This topper is from The Hobby House. I think the artist is Daisy Mae. The papers are First Edition perfect Christmas. I wanted to go for a vintage look so used my TH distress tool and vintage photo distress ink.  I used the bronze Trimcraft adhesive glitter with a burgundy shadow for the sentiment. Dies used are Memory Box deer, Marianne tree, Lawn Fawn sentiment and Doohickey tag and swirl. On the diecut tree I used the vintage photo DI then a white glitter pen and love the effect it gave.

Another 90th Birthday card

This is the second of the 90th Birthday cards I was asked to make. I used another Hunkydory topper as I was asked for a large card with a floral theme. The papers are LOTV romance and roses. I added some gupuire lace from Wild Orchid, some narrow ribbon, various flowers, pearl trim and a butterfly from Poundland.

New Born

I am trying to use some of the many LOTV simply prints I already have printed off so I teamed this cutie with the First Edition It's a Boy papers. The sentiment is included in the paper pack. I diecut some clouds using an old Memory Box die and added some enamel hearts from Tiger.

We are hoping to visit one of the local small garden centres this afternoon as we think the bigger ones will be too busy. It will depend upon the queue whether we go in or not. Like all of them they are limiting numbers so we will see what it is like.

Trimcraft bag

I made a simple gift bad using products from Trimcraft. I am loving the new adhesive glitter.  I used the silver from the metallics packFor the tag I used an old Spellbinders die, cutting one from kraft card and one from the glitter sheet. The decoupage, paper and wooden and paper roses are from the First Edition Paper Posies range. I used a MFT scallop die for the border.

And another Hunkydory topper

Yes I am afraid it is yet another card using a Hunkydory topper. This is a 7" card I was asked to make. The paper is from the same pad I used before from The Works. I added some of the beautiful gupuire lace from Wild Orchid. I wanted to add a few embellishments but not oo much and decide on some different sized butterflies. The paper one is from Poundland and I found various wooden ones in my stash which I coloured with Nuvo glitter markers.

Well that's another week gone by. Enjoy your weekend, whatever you are doing. If you are like us that will be staying at home apart from a walk.

Carrie's Potting shed

Another commission was to make a plaque with this title and lots of pink. I found the perfect image amongst my Hunkydory toppers. The paper is from an old LOTV pad romance and roses.  I coloured a wooden birdhouse  and the handle of the spade with Zig wood pen and used a silver sparkle pen on the other part.  The flowers are from Wild Orchid and the butterfly is from a pack I bought in America a while ago.

Hello I'm back on my blog

Well I think that may be the longest I have ever left my blog without posting as my last post was Friday. I don't know where the time goes some days. I have been very busy with a few orders. Luckily I had some of the cards which were suitable in stock so I just had to personalise a few of them. I have been making others though like this one. In fact I have sold more this last week than I do at some craft fairs!

I was asked to make two large floral cards for a lady who used to live locally but now lives in Cyprus. There is no postal service there to the UK at the moment so I typed messages in the cards and posted them to the care home for her. I was so pleased that she loves the cards and says the recipient will love them too.

I have some Hunkydory toppers which are lovely but quite big so making an 8" card enable me to use them. The paper is from a 12x12 pack from The Works. I punched and diecut some leaves and used some flowers I have had in my stash for a long time. The wooden bird is from Hobbycraft.

Back tomorrow with something different.

Ruby Wedding Mice

This is one of the cards I was asked to make this week. I used a LOTV simply print, printing out two so I could decoupage the balloon. The paper is an old Craftwork Cards one and I used a doily behind the diecut image. The flowers are from Wild Orchid.

We're off to get our click and collect shopping at lunchtime, such excitement! I'm sure we are all looking forward to the day we can browse the shops safely, have a meal out and feel safe around other people.  That may be some time away I fear. Until then stay safe x

Fairy Lili Sparkle

I planned to make some Christmas cards this week but getting an image out onto my desk is as far as I have got. A couple of friends asked for urgent cards, then a lady who comes to my cardmaking classes and buys from me at the hospital craft fairs asked for 10 cards and a plaque. So a sort through my cards and I found 7 suitable cards, some just need personalising. It's nice to think some of my cards will be posted out rather than just siting in my stock. I am doubting whether I will be doing any craft fairs this year the way things are looking. 

I have been working on this cross stitch for a little while and am very happy with how she turned out.  The pattern is from The Little Stitchery, a division of LOTV. She is called Lili Sparkle and should be stitched in pink but I fancied using purple. I used similar colours to the pattern for the rest of her as I have so many threads and didn't want to buy more.  I was going to put in her a wooden frame but preferred her in the hoop frame.  I will be back with a card tomorrow.

Racing By

I don't know about you but knowing every day you have so much time to spend at home I keep procrastinating thinking I will do that tomorrow. Mind you we have been doing  lot of jigsaws and reading and I have been doing a lot of cross stitching, I am on to the backstitching on my latest picture so will have that finished soon. 

So I have had a break from making cards and blogging for the last three days which means my head is full of ideas so I got in the craft room yesterday and made a couple of cards. I have used one of the new coloured simply prints from Lili of the Valley. This one is Racing by. The papers are some old Docrafts Mr Mister and I added some twine and metal embellishments. I am enjoying using up some of the stash I have had for years and since the lockdown have only bought a couple of dies in the sale at Dies at Die For.

Enjoy your Sunday x

It's launch day with some buried treasure

As promised yesterday I am back with another card using one of the coloured simply prints. There are 24 new digis and 25 coloured simply prints out today at Lili of the Valley. This one is buried treasure. I have used some old Docrafts papers which were just perfect for this image. The ribbon is from crafty Ribbons and I used Joy dies plus a seagull die which came with a beach chair die.

This launch is perfect for male cards as there is a huge variety of images. 

How are you all coping with the lockdown? I have been pleasantly surprised by how well we are doing. I think already being retired has helped a great deal as we are used to being at home. I feel sorry for people stuck in a flat with children. It must be really hard trying to home school particularly if you are working from home and have no garden or nice outside space. I do look forward to a slight easing and being able to drive over to see my Mum even if it means having a chat on the doorstep rather than just FaceTiming her.

Hey Mr Spaceman

I was going to do some ironing this morning but decided instead to have a play with some of the coloured simply prints launching tomorrow at LOTV. This one is called spaceman. I used some old Docrafts papers, star punches and MFT zigzag dies. The top zigzag is from the waste and I rather liked the effect of the three different sizes.  Back with another tomorrow.

Best golfer

I have another of the new images coming on 29th April from Lili of the Valley. Tis one is best golfer and I have coloured him as usual with Copics. I used chalk for the sky as I like the soft effect which shows more on the actual card. The sentiment is from a new set launching at the same time. The papers are MFT free spirit. A very cas design for me but it just felt right with no added embellishments.

Bouncy

Lili of the Valley have a new release coming on 29th April and this time it is all about the boys. Some really different images and it was hard to know which one to use first.  This one is called Bouncy and I have coloured it with Copics. The senetiment is from a new set called simple labels. papers are MFT free spirit and I used an old Memory Box kite die and added some white gel dots to the card.

Floating in Lakeland, Florida

This is the second of the layouts I made on Monday. I have no idea what these floating figures were all about but they were all in the trees in the park.  Lakeland is a lovely quaint old town with some lovely cafes and shops. There is also a lovely lake to take a nice walk around and on the outskirts of the town is Violettes which is a wonderful craft shop. It has so many little rooms filled with so many craft materials with everything you need for cardmaking and scrapbooking. I wish it was near me instead of just Hobbycraft and The Range.  I have never been in a craft shop like they have in America.

I used Echo Park Summer Days papers, the balloon is from another set and I coloured some wooden balloons with Nuvo glittermarkers. 

Today's excitement is going to the farm shop for some fruit and vegetables. We have been so lucky managing to get click and collect orders at Morrison's.  We mostly shop at Tesco in normal times but they haven't had any slots available for either collection or delivery.  It is so much safer than going into the supermarkets as you only see one person who loads the shopping into your boot whilst we stand back. Some people say supermarkets are ok but I have also read stories from all over the country of people ignoring social distancing so whilst we can click and collect we will until life returns to some kind of normal.

Stay cheerful, stay home, stay safe x

Gorjuss Bumblebee

After doing some tidying in the garden on Tuesday I decided to make a card. I had a pack of Gorjuss toppers on my desk and used this cute bumblebee image. I diecut it with a MFT wonky stitched oval and punched tags from the sides of the remaining topper using a Fiskars tag punch.  The papers are some old Crate Paper ones, burlap flowers are Docrafts.

Cheers

Scrapbook pages always look so much better in real life as they are not easy to photograph. I have made a couple more layouts for one of our Florida scrapbooks. These pics were taken in Clearwater, Florida on a hot day in February. We stopped for a light lunch and they had an offer on Bud light if you bought two. I just fancied one that day but am not a beer drinker and in fact haven't had another in the three years since these pics were taken. 

I used a variety of papers and stickers, using both the MFT pierced banner and jumbo stitched banner dies. I bought a pack of letters from B&M a while ago and started doing the title only to discover that the letters only go up to P as the second sheet in the pack are numbers which is a bit odd so used some American thickers with them.  I rather like using a mix of lettering and a good way of making sure as many letters as possible get used in a pack.

Hellebores

This is the second card I made for my friend's request. I used the hellebore image from the coloured art pad but you can find this as a coloured simply print at LOTV. I used papers from The Works, LOTV sentiment, MFT wonky stitched oval and stitched ricrac dies along with some lace from my stash and some old Memory Box butterfly dies.

Captain Tom will be 100

This card is of course for Captain Tom Moore, a remarkable gentleman. You don't need me to tell you all about him and his fundraising. I saw the appeal to make him cards for his 100th Birthday on 30th April and this is the card I made. I used a coloured simply print from LOTV and some very old Docrafts papers. The backing paper is a Union Jack. I used some MFT paper and MFT pierced banner dies along with a LOTV sentiment and some number stickers from my Scrapbooking stash.

Flower jug

My friend across the road asked me on Wednesday afternoon if I could make her two floral cards for Thursday as she had to post them. Thank goodness for coloured toppers as I didn't have time to colour two images and make the cards. This is actually from one of the old LOTV art pads but this image and many more floral ones are available as coloured imply print digis.

The papers are from The Works, lace from Crafty Ribbons, sentiment LOTV teenage girl sentiments. I used MFT wonky stitched circle and stitched ricrac dies and a Crafts Too butterfly die.

I will be back tomorrow with a card for a very special person.

Organising

I have been busy organising all my embroidery threads by winding them onto bobbins and sorting them in colour order in these organisers. 

I filled a large and medium one and had to order a second large one to fit them all in. I also have a small one which I use to keep the threads in for my current project. I seem to have inspired a few people to renew their interest in cross stitching which is nice. 

I will be back tomorrow with a card.

Regency Christmas

I thought with all the extra time at home I really should get some more Christmas cards made as I have made very few so far this year. I love the vintage girls from Lili of the Valley, this one is Regency Christmas. I have gone for a vintage multi layered card which I really enjoyed making.

She has been coloured with Copics.  I used a Copic sparkle pen for the ribbon on the present and buttons on her jacket, chalk for the sky and fun flock on the fur.  The papers are First Edition perfect Christmas, ribbon from Crafty Ribbons.

I die cut the sentiment and punched the holly leaves from one of the new Dovecraft adhesive glitter sheets from the metallics pack.  It made sticking the fiddly sentiment so easy.

We should have been going to Nottingham today to see a Cirque due Soleil show on ice and stay overnight at a Premier Inn. Instead we will be going to Morrisons for a click and collect order, not as exciting but necessary.  We have been very lucky getting a collection slot as it is much safer than going into the supermarket, something we have managed to avoid since the lockdown.

Snowman decoration

I took some time out from a larger cross stitch I am doing to make my first cross stitched Christmas decoration for this year. It actually took a lot more work than I thought but I love how it turned out. It is one of a set of 4 Happy Snowmen patterns I bought from Durene Jones on Etsy. I made a few changes as the button was cross stitch, the eyes backstitch and the mouth and baubles french knots. I decided to use buttons and seed beads instead. 

I must have had the seed beads since I first started crafting. I think they came in one of those plastic containers I bought when starting out as it had all kinds of embellishments in it. I think it is the first time I have used the seed beads so I am glad I kept them.   

I stitched it on perforated paper which is nice and stiff, then added a ribbon loop and used strong glue to attach white felt to the back. Tomorrow I will be sharing a Christmas card with you.

Dainty dancing

I made this for my friend Lynsey's daughter Grace whose Birthday was yesterday.  The image is LOTV dainty dancing coloured with Copics. I used a Lawn Fawn pierced rectangle die and some pretty double sided papers from The Works. The pad is 12x12 and was only £3. I am so impressed with this pad as the papers are a good thickness and I do love double sided papers. I used a new die from Whimsy called connected rectangles. I cute the die into two as I wanted to use it either side of the image.  The sentiment is LOTV.

Juggling chicks

I have never made so many Easter cards as I have this year as I don't normally send many, if at all. However I thought it would be a nice thing to do this year to brighten a few friends' day.  I used one of the coloured simply prints from LOTV diecut with a MFT stitched oval die. The papers are Lemoncraft fresh Summer again and the ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons from a few years ago. The sentiment is LOTV and the flowers are from Wild Orchid. I used some brads for the centres for a change and added a few dots made with Nuvo crystal drops. 

Happy Easter x