Snowman and robin

Friday already and 4th September. I have done well so far this month with 4 projects in 4 days. 

I enjoyed making the last one of these so much and as there are four different designs in the set I made another Christmas decoration. I stitched it onto perforated paper which is stiffer than material and can be cut without fraying. I stitched the ribbon onto the back and then backed with white felt stuck down with Collal 3d glue.

I have an order for a bookmark to do next as a friend liked the one I made for my Mum.

Trying something new

One of my crafting friends has set up an Etsy store, Catkin and Lillie, selling cross stitch designs. As a newsletter subscriber I received a free pattern for a layered snowflake. It is stitched on 14 count perforated paper which I have never heard of before. It is really lovely to stitch on and I shall be using it for more projects. 

The trickiest part is cutting round the stitching but thankfully I have a pair of small scissors. It is one of the things you have to do a little at a time and taking your time. I layered each layer onto white felt and then of course had to cut round that. I used small foam pads to layer up my snowflake, stitched some thread through the top and it is ready for my tree. I will be buying the rest of the designs and making some to sell next year.

We are going out to the coast for Sunday lunch today as it is quite a while since we did that. Enjoy your day.

Christmas is coming

I have been experimenting making a few different things for my November craft fairs. This looks even better in real life. I used an embroidery hoop and some lovely Christmas fabric. I added red flowers and gold poinsettias from Hobbycraft along with some leaves and berries.

I haven't made a card for a few days as I have been out and about and cutting out and sewing decorations. Today we are out but I hope to make some cards tomorrow afternoon.

Material this time

These sold out last year as well as the paper ones so I am starting earlier this year. Last year I used slightly bigger baubles so I experimented with sizes. For the one on the left I used 2.25" squares and the only problem was that the pins in the red ones showed and if you look closely at the top you can see the red on the green row. So I added strips of ribbon as I don't like the pins showing.

The tartan one I made using 2.5" squares and this worked much better. The material was also much softer so my thumb didn't get as sore pushing in all the pins. These are made the same as the paper ones except I pin a square at the bottom and then each square is folded into a triangle and then folded again so the stright edge is pinned on either side.

We went to the theatre in Lowestoft last night with friends so stayed overnight in a Premier Inn as it was a long show. The 8 of us enjoyed a lovely meal last night before the show and we will be enjoying a cooked breakfast this morning before heading home, picking up some food shopping on the way.  I will be in the craft room all day tomorrow whilst hubby is out and have a lot planned to make. I have a craft fair next Wednesday then none until November when I have 5 fairs booked.

Christmas decorations

Regular followers may remember I made some of these for the first time last year and I sold out so I am starting earlier this year. I did a tutorial which you can find here.  This time I used 1.5" squares which meant 3 of each colour per row. I like making these with material too so will be making some of those as I only made a few of those last year and after keeping one for our tree sold the rest. I have so many things I want to make and will have a day crafting on Sunday as hubby is out all day for his last day of driving the rescue boat at powerboat racing. That is the end of the racing season then though he will no doubt be doing a bit of work on the boats to get them ready for Winter and the new season.  He loves it and it gives me the chance to get in the craftroom.  The poinsettias are from Hobbycraft.

Sparkly decorations

I bought these MDF decorations at Doncaster and I am pleased I have the ready so early. I didn't want to make them too fancy. I used various sparkle brush pens, Zig Acrylista pens and white emulsion on the snowman. I hope you can see some of the sparkle. I added some little wooden decorations to the signposts. The snowmen were decorated with glitter heart enamel dots and pearls.

Off to set up the hospital shop today as we are planning a day at the coast tomorrow if it isn't raining and we are in the hospital shop on Monday. I won't be taking these until September though.

Christmas decorations

I bought some wooden discs in Florida as I wanted to make some Christmas decorations with them. I was originally going to stamp on them but decided to go for papers and diecuts instead.  Hubby drilled holes in them for me and I used various scraps of Christmas papers on both sides. The dies I used are Memory Box stitched snowflakes, Marianne poinsettia, Memory Box penguins, Lawn Fawn litle town border and Impression Obsessions Santa and sleigh. I then sprayed them with Crafters Companions spray and shine for a glossy long lasting shine.

Challenges

CCAYR house or cottage 

ABC Christmas M is for more than one 

Winter Wonderland add snowflakes
Not just cards anything goes

I am definitely more ahead for Christmas makes this year. Now if I can only find some more time for scrapbooking that would be good.

Have you entered my candy?

Santa

This is my second post today.

Have you seen the lovely new Christmas ribbon range launching at the moment at Crafty Ribbons. There are so many lovely ones now available and more coming very soon, so keep checking their website and Facebook. I have used one of the festive combos to make a little Christmas decoration. I covered an MDF star in Bo Bunny Father Christmas paper and added the button and two ribbons from the new festive combo. A very simple make but cute.

Challenges

Winter Wonderland anything but square 

Creative Inspirations Your favourite occasion (mine is definitely Christmas) 

Penny's Christmas 

Allsorts Buttons

Decorations

So this year I decided to try making some Christmas decorations to sell at craft fairs. I bought a small silver and gold tree from The Range to display them on my table.

These are some I made using MDF baubles and stars, ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, papers and various embellishments.

When we were in Florida in January I bought some of these decorations from the sale bin at Jo-anns. I cut off the wire, threw away the tatty ribbon and hubby painted them with cream paint.

This is how a couple of them finished up. All the ribbons are from Crafty Ribbons. I used baker's twine to hang the little decorations and added various embellishments. Here is one of the stars I made too. I am at a fair from 10-2 today so hoping I sell some more of them today. 

Challenges

Winter Wonderland Christmas decorations 

Simon Says Monday Ornaments 

Divas by Design Photo inspiration 

Simon Says We're seeing stars 

Allsorts Anything but a card 

Crafting Musketeers Anything but a card 

Vintage stamping Anything but a card

I will be back this afternoon to link my post and catch up with you.

Don't forget to enter my candy, see my candy page.

Paint fusion decoration

Good morning everyone, and what a cold and frosty start to the day. After being away for most of November, with my holiday to Florida and then Craftaganza, (3 day Crafter's Companion workshop in Darlington), I feel out of touch with everyone so I'll be catching up on some blogging later today. I'm still playing catch up with the ironing and want to get some cards made today too.

This is my first ever Christmas decoration and my first attempt at paint fusion. We had a wonderful class with Sheena Douglass at Craftaganza. We made the 3 circles in class using Sheena's stamps and paint fusion. I haven't painted since school and I was never very good at it then but I am really pleased with this for a first attempt. I finished it off this morning by distressing the edges and spraying with Spray and Sparkle and attaching the ribbon and circles at the back.

Challenges:

Cafts 4 eternity Christmas decoration

CRAFT Unusual Christmas

Incy Wincy Trees