Stitch

 I made this during a few evenings before Christmas. It is a 4” hoop using a pattern from Durene Jones. The pattern says take life one stitch at a time but I only wanted the word Stitch on it so adapted it a little. I do love stitching these little pictures.

A friend saw it on my Facebook timeline and bought it so I will need to make another.

70th Birthday

This is for a very good friend of ours whose 70th Birthday was yesterday.  She doesn't like cute images but she does love gardening so I chose this Hunkydory image.  The card is 7" square and the paper is First Edition Forever Free.  I added a square doily, flowers from Wild Orchid and a butterfly from Poundland.  The leaves were cut using a Joy die.  Numbers are American Thickers.

I rarely use this many colours on a card but wanted to echo the colours in the image with my embellishments.  I think I must challenge myself to use more colours on a card as I tend to stick to two main colours.

As I made this card I realised what a long time it is since I bought from Wild Orchid.  It must be at least two years and I still have lots of their flowers. I didn't buy much craft stuff at all this year but there is still an awful lot of stuff in my craft room, like most crafters I think.

 

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy Christmas.  I love Christmas Eve at home. A few chores this morning then enjoying the rest of the day. We have my Mum coming tomorrow so looking forward to that.  Stay safe, have fun and see you again after Christmas.

 

Deer for my dear hubby

I bought another distress oxide, salty ocean and had a play with that and chipped sapphire after stamping the large wreath.  This is an 8" square card and Graham loves it.  I added some red liquid pearls and chunky glitter.

I have really enjoyed playing more with my Card-io stamps and need to experiment more with non Christmas Card-io stamps to make some Birthday cards.

 

Christmas pudding

Another cross stitched Christmas card using a pattern from Durene Jones.  I thought my blogging friend Kate would like this one as she has a cat and a good sense of humour.  The image does make me smile.  I used some old LOTV paper, tartan of course for Kate in Scotland. I made a frame for the image and used an old Memory Box holly branch, a Woodware punch and some card candi.

 

Cross stitch meets Card-io

I have my last few Christmas cards to share with you before Christmas.  This free pattern from Durene Jones came up on Facebook a couple of weeks ago and as I have a friend who loves hedgies I just had to stitch it for her card.  I stitched it on perforated paper so I could cut him out and add him to the background.

Having used distress inks for years I am also now loving the distress oxides and used the chipped sapphire again. I also added a little black ink to the sky.  The trees were stamped in silver which came out really well I thought,  I am finding the torn paper so much easier to stamp over than using a plastic mask.  I added the foliage and some red liquid pearls.

We are not mixing very much but we are having a Christmas lunch with some friends today.  We arranged it weeks ago and there are only 6 of us in a nice airy restaurant.  

This new variant is very worrying even when you are triple jabbed as we are.  We have started taking lateral flow tests twice weekly to safeguard ourselves and others,  Stay safe everyone x

 

Discovering distress oxides

 

I made this card for some special friends. I have been watching some Youtube tutorials of Card-io stamps and looking at ideas on Pinterest. I decided to buy Chipped Sapphire distress oxide to try. I love it as I achieved just the look I wanted on this card. I used it for the sky and the snowdrifts. I also discovered that using torn paper is better than using a mask as it is easier to stamp right to the snow line. I have now bought some blending brushes and another colour distress oxide to try some blending,

I am so pleased with the way this turned out. Sometimes I have a design in mind and the card ends up nothing like I envisaged but this turned out just as I imagined. All the stamps are Card-io and I used liquid pearls for the berries, a white gel pen and glitter.

50th Birthday card

This is a commissioned card for someone whose Birthday is New Year's Day.  My friend asked for this image as she liked a previous card I made using it.  It is an old Whiff of Joy image by Elisabeth Bell which I coloured with Copics.  I haven't done much colouring lately so am looking forward to having time to do more soon.

The paper is First Edition Forever Free which was perfect as she asked for this colour scheme.  I added a doily, lace from Crafty Ribbons and lots of flowers from Wild Orchid.  I used Victorian Velvet distress ink around the image and sentiment.

 

Cross stitched snowman

Yesterday we visited my Mum and went out for a lovely Christmas lunch. Next time we see her will be Christmas Day so we exchanged Christmas cards.  I recently bought the new snowman patterns from Catkin and Lillie's Etsy shop and just had to sew one of them for Mum's card.  I remembered I have some red material and thought it would be much better for showing off the snowman.  As I started to stitch it I realised it is 16 count rather than 14 count so he came out a bit smaller than the pattern.  It was also slightly more challenging to sew that size.

I used a MFT scalloped frame, old LOTV papers, ribbon from stash snowflake banner from The Works and Marianne and Joy tree dies with some embossed card.

Oh Christmas tree

 

Well not much happening on my blog this week, I have been doing some crafting but nothing I can share at the moment. After the two craft fairs I had a big sort out of all my stock. I had just 4 Santa keys left from a couple of years ago so advertised them on Facebook groups and sold them all. It’s such a busy time of year for everyone so I do appreciate those who take time to visit and especially comment.

We got the decorations out yesterday. We bought a smaller tree last year which I love and a lot of the decorations we used are handmade, mostly by me. The latest addition I bought at a craft fair. It is on the right, a needle felted robin with a knitted hat. 

I will be back blogging again soon.

Snowball fight

I used an old coloured art pad image from Lili of the Valley for this.  I love the monochrome with just touches of red and kept to that colour scheme .  The papers are First Edition Winter Rose.  I found a matching border in an old diecut pack and added some ribbon from Crafty Ribbons.  I used Dovecraft adhesive white glitter card with a Marianne tree die and MFT layered snowflake dies.

Pauline C thanks for all your lovely comments. I follow your blog but can’t comment on your blog on my Ipad as you have embedded comments. If you could change to a pop up box I can comment on your lovely work. Interesting comments from you on inking. Look forward to seeing more on your blog.

 

More animals in the snow

Another Card-io card today.  I watched a Youtube tutorial and found that the person making the card used torn paper to create the snow so I decided to have a go and found it worked better with the tree stamps than using my MFT stencil.  Some of the snow lines came out a bit too dark but after adding some very old Martha Stewart crystal flakes I don't think they look too bad.

I need to experiment more with different inks.  I found a bargain in QD, packs of 4 small ink pads for just £1.49 a pack so will be trying those out.  Each pack has 3 chalk inks and 1 metallic.  I bought 2 packs to try.

 

Vintage Christmas

A very different style of card today.  I am really trying to use up some old stash and saw a card on Facebook that somebody made with a chipboard Christmas tree as the main feature.  I thought I am sure I have a wooden tree I bought at a craft show and yes I did.  

I used First Edition Winter Rose papers and made a banner using a MFT pierced die and some old kraft paper.  Another thing I rediscovered recently was a pack of different patterned kraft papers.  I made a bow out of lace and added a wooden bow from Hobbycraft, another old pack and a wooden snowflake.

Getting there with Christmas cards

Just a few Christmas cards left to make now. I used a coloured digi from Lili of the Valley, Christmouse house.  The papers are some old ones and I used some old Memory Box holly and ivy dies.  The glitter tape is new.  I bought a pack from The Works, lots of lovely colours.  The sentiment is LOTV and I found the star in some old diecuts in my Christmas stash.

I am at a craft today and another tomorrow.  These are my last two this year, both 11-3 which suits us nicely.  I think that is long enough for a craft fair.  Any longer and you probably get the same amount of people just spread over more hours.  We were going to do another next Saturday but I decided a couple of weeks ago not to do that one as I didn't have to pay until the day and it was further to go. Hopefully I will be able to start fairs earlier next year but that all depends on Covid of course.  

Stay safe and have a lovely weekend.

 

Animals in the snow

A friend asked me to make her a couple of Card-io cards. She really likes this style and as she loves horses I included them on the card.  I used a MFT stencil to create the hill and small ink pads for some colour behind the trees finishing off with Stickles.

 

Deer oh deer

Another of my wreath cards.  I decided to go with a forest scene this time using small ink pads to create some colour behind the trees.  I used red and white liquid pearls to add berries to the wreath.  I have all sorts of glitter in my stash, some from years ago and found these crystal flakes which create a rather nice snowy feel.

 

Village scene

A very different Card-io card today.  I have so many of these stamps and love creating different scenes.  I added some colour to the tree decorations and the lamp and used Stickles.

Off to the hairdressers for a cut and colour today.

 

Wind and snow

We had a great time Friday night, lovely meal and brilliant show.  Then we stayed overnight in the Premier Inn and came home after breakfast Saturday morning.  We had to go to Prima Rosa to restock some items and I discovered that both my felt penguins had sold so I need to make some more of those.

I have been playing with my Card-io stamps again and I don't know why I have never thought of stamping a snowflake wreath before. However after seeing a card on my newest follower Alison's blog I decided to have a go as I really liked the one she made. The beauty of sharing our creations is inspiring others so thank you Alison.

After I stamped the snowflake wreath I thought the snowman losing his hat in the wind was the perfect centre piece.  I simply added some Stickles and layered onto purple card.  I do prefer layering onto coloured card rather than stamping onto the card blank as it gives it more emphasis.

Cardmaking this morning then we are going out for lunch.  It is a long time since we had Sunday lunch out and we are going to a local restaurant we haven't been to for ages apart from a breakfast a few weeks ago so hoping the good reports are correct.

 

Farmhouse Christmas

Whilst I was printing off the Nitwits Peachy Keen kit to make a card for a friend (see Wednesday's post) I decided to print off some elements for a Christmas card using Farmhouse Christmas kit.

I added some elements to the backing paper and printed off some them again so I could decoupage them using foram pads.  I also printed the green tartan paper from the kit and punched some holly leaves and added some card candi for berries.  

It is our last theatre trip for this year tonight and it is That'll be the Day Christmas Show.  They always put on a brilliant show so really looking forward to that.  Going with 4 friends and having a meal first so should be a fun evening.

 

More gift bags

I took some gift bags into Prima Rosa where they sell some of my cards and gifts and they sold them so had to make some more to take in.  Took these four in and a lady bought two before they even went on display. Another lady bought two of my wooden blocks and asked me to make another. This bag was made using Dovecraft Winter Wonderland paper, decoupage and ribbon.  The others using Dovecraft Naughty or Nice.

My tag punch broke so I ordered another from Amazon as Hobbycraft were out of stock of the one I bought a couple of years ago.  It came the next day and is much nicer as it gives a scalloped top.  I do have some tag dies but the punch is much quicker to use.

 

Oldie but a goodie

Well what a busy time I am having.  The two craft fairs were good at the weekend.  Sunday's was so busy, about 2000 people though the door in 4 hours.  I am busy sewing now to restock for my last two fairs on 27th and 28th November.  I decided to get a card reader as sadly so many people carry little cash with them these days. I only lost one sale through not having one on Sunday.  I talked to a few stallholders and read some reviews and decided to get a Zettle reader.  It was on offer for £22.80 and there is no contract with just 1.75% fees on each transaction. So when I am not using it it costs me nothing.

My card was made for a friend who is 74 and loved 50's and 60's music.  I used Nitwits Peachy Keen digi kit.  Some elements were printed onto the backing papers and some printed onto card and attached with foam pads.

I still need to make several Christmas cards so am hoping to get several made today.

 

Cross stitch tags

I have been busy sewing this week to make more things for today and tomorrow’s craft fairs. They are both about a 20 minute drive away and today’s is 11-2 and tomorrow’s 11-3 which suits me just fine.

I got this pattern for min presents from Catkin and Lillie’s Etsy shop and have been enjoying cross stitching them and attaching them to gift tags. I used an old Little Claire sentiment stamp which is just the right size for tags.

I have lots of odd pieces of perforated paper left from making snowflakes so these are a great way of using them and also using odd pieces of embroidery cottons.

 

Another commissioned football card

The lady who orders cards from me every month asked for a football card for a 7 year old.  I had this coloured digi from Pink Gem  so thought it was perfect.  The papers are old ones from K&Co called Hopscotch plus an odd piece of football paper.  I am doing pretty well with using up some of my very old papers.  I used MFT pierced banner dies and job done.

Off to see my Mum today and go out for lunch which will be nice.

 

Sharing an umbrella

I am short of Anniversary cards for my stall so used this coloured simply print from Lili of the Valley to make a card for stock.  This one is showered with love which I diecut and added to a red doily.  The wooden and burlap hearts are from Hobbycraft a few years ago and I added some tiny red pearl hearts to the corners and a couple of pearl hearts to the image.

 

Santa Paws

I don't often make decoupaged cards but Janet Roberts owner at Pink Gem Designs asked the former DT if we would like to use any of her images.  This is Santa Paws 2 and is so sweet.  I used some free paper to back it and decoupaged the layers.  It really didn't need much adding so I used a Woodware holly punch and some card candi.

This will be going on my stall at the weekend when I have 2 crafts fairs.  I chose these fairs as they are not far away and Saturday's is 11-2 and Sunday's 11-3.  I don't like doing fairs which go on beyond 3pm really.

 

Filling the stockings

I used one of the latest digis from LIli of the Valley for today's card, Hedgehog presents.  The sentiment is also LOTV.  Coloured with Copics and diecut using  a stitched square die from The Works.  The papers are First Edition Winter rose.  I added some ribbon, leaves and foliage from my stash.

Looking at the photo the ribbon, which is red, looks a completely different colour on the left hand side.  The light is so poor on dreary days, even brightening the pics with Photoshop doesn't give as good a picture as the actual card.

We had another night away last night, this time in Lowestoft at a Premier Inn.  We went with friends to see Talon, the Eagles tribute band.  We have seen them a few times and they are always excellent.

 

Another Snowman!

I am trying to work my way through some of the images I have stamped or printed and this is one of many LOTV snowmen which came out last year.  They have such sweet faces and are so easy to colour.  I used Copics and some old Dovecraft papers. I added some sparkle with a clear sparkle pen and some snow with a white gel pen.

I found the snowflake dies which I think may have been in a bundle I bought from someone who has given up crafting.  The snowflake border is from The Works.  I used Dovecraft adhesive glitter card.

 

And in red

You may have seen yesterdays card with purple poinsettias and card.  I liked it so much I made another but this time in red.  This time I stamped the Docrafts sentiment first before stamping the wreath.

If you want to know how I create a wreath see yesterday's post.

 

A Magical Christmas

I fancied creating a card using Card-io stamps to make a wreath and then stamping a sentiment in the middle.  Of course I should have stamped the sentiment first but luckily this old Docrafts stamp fitted perfectly.  

When I create my wreath I start with a with a piece of card which I diecut and attached postits to the back.  I lay this one, stamp around it, lift it off and then build up the wreath with various stamps.

Although it may look black the backing card is actually purple to match the poinsettias.

We stayed at a Premier Inn in Ipswich last night as we went to see Tony Blackburn's sounds of the sixties show which was brilliant so will be on our way home this morning after stopping at a farm shop for breakfast and shopping.

 

Time for pudding

I was on a roll on Monday making 3 Christmas cards and 2 Birthday cards.  This is one of the newer stamps from LOTV called Teddy pudding.  The sentiment is also LOTV.  I coloured the image with Copics and added glittered fun flock to the fur.  The papers are some old ones from LOTV and I used a Memory Box stocking die.

Pink and grey snowman

I am really starting to feel better now apart from feeling a bit tired still.  We had our flu jabs on Saturday and both had aching arms afterwards.  Poor Graham ached all over and was very tired on Saturday and Sunday but was better yesterday.  My arm is still tender to the touch.

I bought this Serendipity stamp at a charity shop and coloured him with Copics.  I added some glitter mixed with fun flock to the snow.  The wonky stitched oval is a MFT die.  The papers are some old LOTV ones and the poinsettias are from Hobbycraft.

Christmas scene

I have a completely different Card-io card today.  I love creating Christmas scenes using stamps from various sets.  I found I hadn't used the little village stamp before.  I use a MFT stencil to create the snowdrifts, holding it in place while I stamp the images.

Using small ink pads I created the sunset behind the trees.  I used a grey Copic pen and a white sparkle pen to add a bit of depth and sparkle.

 

A jolly snowman

I finally got my results on Friday and I have had food poising (campylobacter) so I have a course of antibiotics which are starting to make me feel a lot better thank goodness.

I had a play with my Card-io stamps and made 4 cards.  This is the first where I stamped a wreath using various foliage stamps and then stamped the jolly snowman.  I added some red liquid pearls and layered onto red card to match.

It's a dreadful day here at the moment, wet and windy.  I am going to schedule some posts for the next few days and hope the afternoon improves so we can go food shopping.

 

More Winter Wonderland

Another card using the new Dovecraft Winter Wonderland range.  The snowflakes are little extras in the decoupage pack so I punched holes in them and added some sliver and white sparkly twine from the Naught or Nice range,  

 

Another gift bag

Another make from the new Dovecraft Winter Wonderland range.  The sparkly snowflake decoupage is so pretty against the diecut circle.  I added a decoupage sentiment and decoupaged tree onto the tage which was cut with a Spellbinders die.

 

Christmas flowers

Another of the simple makes with my new goodies from Craft Label.  This one is using products from the new Dovecraft Winter Wonderland range.  Papers, decoupage, enamel dots and star charm.  The twine is from the new Naughty or Nice range.

A short post today as I scheduled it on Monday when I was still feeling exhausted.

 

On the mend

Thank you for all your good wishes.  After a dreadful few days I am finally on the mend I hope.  I am waiting for the sample results.  I have started eating a bit more and yesterday went for a short walk.  It was nice to get some fresh air after being indoors for 4 days.  However I was exhausted when we got back. I managed to do a little simple crafting at the weekend and yesterday scheduled a few blog posts.  

I received some new goodies as part of the Craft Label DT and started by making some gift bags.  The papers, sentiment and decoupage are all from the Dovecraft Naughty or Nice range.  I used a Spellbinders tag die, added a wooden snowflake and diecut some trees using Dovecraft  self adhesive glitter card.

Everything on this card is from the Naughty or Nice range except the glitter ribbon which is from the new Winter Wonderland ribbons.

 

Apologies for absence

 So sorry I haven’t been posting or visiting you blogs but I am really poorly at the moment with a tummy bug. Well I hope that is what it is. I will spare you the details but I felt poorly since Tuesday night. Wednesday night and Thursday morning were the worst with it but having eaten hardly anything I am exhausted. I am drinking plenty of water and herbal tea and after a phone call from the Dr’s surgery Graham has gone to buy me some rehydration tablets.

I have so many things I want to make but haven’t felt like doing anything. Graham is very good, looking after me and doing all the housework.

More snowflakes

When I posted my blue snowflakes on Facebook I had the most comments I have ever had on a project so I am hoping they will be good sellers at the craft fairs.  I am really enjoying making them even though they are quite fiddly to finish off by cutting round the sticky felt I back them with.

I decided to make some in pinks and purples as an alternative to blues.  So that is 8 in total I have made so far and hope to get more made as I would also like to take some into Prima Rosa, the cafe/gift shop which sells some of my makes.

 

Snowman and friends

I have been busy making but just haven't had time for adding to my blog.  I have been sewing more than cardmaking but I did make this card at the weekend.

The image is from one of this year's launches at LOTV and is called snowman and friends.  I coloured him With Copics adding some snow using a white gel pen.  I used a MFT clouds stencil and a MFT stitched rounded corner die. The papers are some lovely vintage ones I bought on holiday.  I used a Whimsy fence die and a wooden snowflake which I coloured with a wink of Stella white pen.  The sentiment is LOTV.

Another new week and I still have lots of Christmas cards to make and lots of sewing to do for my craft fairs.  This morning though we will be busy tidying the front garden and getting the last of the Spring bulbs planted.

 

Another photo card

Another commissioned card using pet photos.  I had to make this one a 7" card and cut the photos to fit into the frames.  The paper and frames are from Craft Label's finding paradise collection.  I used Memory Box stitched hearts and a sentiment die which I had forgotten I had.  Not my favourite type of card to make but the customer is pleased with it.

 

Poppies for Poppy

I was asked to make a card with poppies on it for a lady called Poppy.  I remembered I had this Woodware stitched poppy stamp which I coloured with Copics.  I wanted to go for  distressed look to match the grungy stamp and knew I wanted to use burlap.  I love this one with the lace across it.  The sentiment is LOTV teenage girls and I added a burlap butterfly and some tiny dots using red liquid pearls.

We have decided to have a trip into the city today.  We don't go into Norwich city centre much unless we have an appointment or we are going to the theatre.  Going to do some Christmas shopping and have a browse round the shops and some lunch no doubt.

 

New toadstool home

Today I have used one of the woodland fairy extra digis which are launching on 23rd October from LOTV.  I coloured it with Copics, using chalk for the sky.  The papers are  Craft O'clock home sweet home.  I used a LOTV block sentiment, MFT stitched cloud and Sweet Dixie flower dies.

Time goes so quickly and I have lots of Christmas cards to make still plus sew Christmas decorations.  How is your Christmas crafting going?

 

Snowflakes

Last year I made one of these for our tree and never had time to make any to sell so this year I was determined to make some for my craft fairs. The patterns are from Catkin and Lilli on Etsy.  There are various designs which you can mix and match to make layered snowflakes.  Each snowflake has 3 layers and like the reindeer I sewed them on perforated paper backed with self adhesive white felt.  

I really enjoyed playing with the different designs and making 4 individual snowflakes.  I did adapt some of the patterns slightly which is really easy to do.

Thank you for the Birthday wishes.  I had a lovely day, starting at my favourite cafe/gift shop Prima Rosa then on to Cromer for a lovely walk along the prom and pier before a delicious fish and cheap meal.  It must be at least 2 years since we had fish and chips in a proper fish and chip restaurant.  We ate them in the restaurant looking out at the sea.  I enjoyed them more than going out for a fancy meal.

 

Happy Birthday to me

Yes today is my Birthday and the weather should be fine so we will be heading out somewhere today.

This is another of the new fairies launching soon at LOTV.  This is Sprite and I merged her one of the extras in the set, which is the bunting toadstool.  I coloured her with Copics.  The paper is from The Works and I used a Joy tree die, some toadstool dies, a Doohickey tag die and a Hobbycraft butterfly punch.

 

Christmas sewing

You may have seen some of these on my blog last year when I made them. I made 3 different ones last year and kept them for our tree.  I have made these ones to sell as I have 4 craft fairs booked.  I am hoping to make some more but I have a lot of sewing I want to make before the fairs.  The pattern is from Catkin and Lillie.   I stitch these on perforated paper which is a nice stiff paper, then cut them out, add the ribbon loop and back with self adhesive white felt trimmed to fit.

 

Second sneak peek

Meet Willow, the second of the woodland fairies launching soon at LOTV.  I merged her with the garland and 2 butterflies and coloured her with Copics using a sparkle pen on her wings.  The papers are Paper Favourites pastel dots from Emerald Crafts.  I used a Crafts Too butterfly die and Joy flower dies along with some paper leaves from Hobbycraft.  The sentiment is from the fairy digi set by LOTV.