Gift card holder

I think trying to make gift cards look something is always abit tricky so here is a template I downloaded from creationsbyar.com for a little gift card giftbox.

Zigzag card and joyfold card

Just been making a few cards with the Papermania spots and stripes paperpack. Lovely summer bright shades, Here are some examples

This is a zigzag card

And a joyfold card

Altered Book

 As part of the Middlesbrough Literary Festival which starts this Saturday 15th June

I will be holding a craft session where you will have the opportunity to alter an old book. Hopefully you will go from something like this:

                                                                         
                                                                         To this:

The session takes place on Friday 28th June at Thorntree Community Hub at 10.30am and will cost £1 and for that very small amount you will be supplied with everything you need to make a lovely altered book to treasure. The session is limited to 10 people so I suggest you send me a message if you want to book a place  or ring Thorntree Hub on 01642 242332. For more information on the marvellous events taking place during the festival go to http://www.middlesbroughlitfest.co.uk/

Spring Fling

Well I might not have put much on my blog lately but it doesn't mean I haven't been busy. My church, St Mary's in Acklam are having a Spring Fling this month and I have been making some stuff to go on the crafty stall. You will probably recognise quite a bit.

Do you like these flannel and soap bunnies. I know it's not Easter but they are sweet.

And these little envelope boxes have a teabag and a biscuit inside. Of course I also made lots of square boxes too. I have a bit of a thing for buying accessories so I used the boxes to hold some costume jewellery I don't wear anymore.

and here are some brooches I have decided to get rid of. I thought I'd give them a vintage look on these little cards I made.

And of course there are all those corsages I made with the Friends of Marton Library last month along with a few of my scarves I don't wear anymore.

And finally more picnic baskets full of sweets. Yum! I hope that some of this lot gets sold to add to the church funds. Now I've got to get cracking making more stuff for another stall, this time to raise money for Thorntree United, Better get busy x 

Thorntree Craft Session

I had a lovely day on Monday at Thorntree Community hub. Lots of lovely ladies came to join me and we made these cute picnic baskets. You can download the template from   http://www.creationsbyar.com/. There are all sorts of interesting projects on this website. I am so grateful to Thorntree United for paying for the sessions and all the materials and to all my regular crafting pals who travelled to Thorntree to join me.

New Marianne design Dies

Just treat myself to some new Marianne design dies. I love them they're so pretty, especially the little birdhouse. I also used Marianne Design paper, which I didn't realise they did. I can see lots of people getting these cards for Birthdays.

Birdcage card

Here is another die from Marianne Designs, the birdcage. I think it would have looked better silver but I'd ran out of silver card so I used an old greetings card to make the birdcage. The paper is from the Riverbank paper back again.

Russian Doll Card

I made this card using the Russian Doll die from Marianne Designs and the Riverbank paper pack which is lovely. I found the doll face on the internet.

Easter

Well after making my exploding box and Easter cards at The North Ormesby Hub Open Day I surprisingly received a few orders, which was unexpected, I have been busy making more and I'm almost there. Here's a picture of my little production line!

And this is my work area. I always tell people how untidy I am when I'm crafting I don't think anyone really realises how bad I am until they see it!

Easter Cards

Some fun little Easter cards I've made using an idea I found on the fiskars website. I will be making these and the Easter exploding box at Thorntree library tomorrow at 10.30am and North Ormesby library next Wednesday at 10.30am. Please feel free to join me, I will bring all the materials and of course tea and coffee will be forth coming.

Bunting Card

I love bunting. I have lots of it at home but I am only allowed to hang it in the garden on special occasions and when the sun is shining which is rare in this country. I thought I could brighten up someones day with a bunting card. As you can see they are very simple but bright and cheerful and use up those little scraps of paper leftovers. You will note I did a bit of stitching with the sewing machine on the top two which I reckon makes it look even more like real bunting.

Easter Exploding Box

I know I made an exploding box at Christmas but here is another one for Easter with a chocolate bunny inside. I will be making one of these at Thorntree Library on 15th March at 10.30am if anyone one wants to come and join me. Daffodil on top is one of those you can buy for the Daffodil Appeal, Marie Curie.

Birdhouse card

Just made this for my lovely Mum. I drew the bird house free-hand and cut it out of a bit of mount board to make it stronger.I used Tilda paper pad- Flower Garden and Summer Blues.My lovely border punch and lots of sparkles.

Flannel gift bag

Here is an idea for a Mothers Day gift.

 Its a little bag made from a flannel and a soap which you can hang in your bathroom.
Using the template above cut out a piece of card and wrap a flannel around it, keeping it in place with sellotape.For the bag handle tie a length of ribbon to form a ring and using a bit of sellotape stick it to the top of the flannel.

 Pop a nice smelling bar of soap in the middle of the flannel and roll the flannel around the soap keeping it all in place with cling film and a bit more selloptape at the top of the bag and tucking the raw edges of film inside the roll.

Now decorate and maybe add a little message.

More owls

A couple of Wedding Acceptance cards made with my paperchase owl stickers.

Mums Birthday Card

A card with a sewing theme. Using Dovecraft family ties paper pad. I stamped the scissors and buttons using Crafty Individuals stamp CI-328. Can someone explain to me how to do stamping properly. I had black ink everywhere. I smudged it I don't know how many times and got black fingerprints on the paper and had to start again so in the end I gave up with the sewing machine and downloaded a digi stamp off the internet. I love these little envelopes on cards. You can find loads of templates on the internet but the one I use is attached.  I used my lovely Martha Stewart border punch for the top and just added some embellishments.

collage

Collage class Night 2

This week we looked at Picasso and his collage of the violin. We had to make a collage of an every day object. I chose a spinning top, not sure about the background, maybe a bit busy. Yo will see there are lots of little images of childrens books on it, think that's the librarian coming out in me!

little owls card

Well I saw these little owl stickers in paperchase and couldn't resist them and then I found these tiny buttons and voila!

Little envelope card

It's my friends Birthday next week and I thought I'd have a go at making a card with a little home-made envelope stuck to the front, which was in this months Quick Cards magazine and the papers were to so a good purchase I thought. I think I'll be doing a lot more of these!

collage

Well I started a collage class last week. The tutor gave us some pictures of 1950's pin-up girls. We had to roughly draw the outline with our left hand (I'm right-handed) and then fill it in with bits of paper. This is my attempt. I have cut it out but I may stick it on to a new background. I'm quite pleased with it I think something similar would look good in fabric and then stitched in to, I might give it a try!

Thought for today

Tonight at church we remembered the holocaust victims. It has been a tricky week for me at work. As you may or may not know my job is on the line and we have been warned that a number of us will face redundancy in the coming months.  As expected moral is very low . It is a stressful time for everyone and I suppose at times like these people behave differently to what they do normally. I have prayed to God to help  understand the reason behind their behaviour, and to feel confident that at the end of the day what ever happens it's mean't to be but I have struggled! Failed in fact. I have tossed and turned in bed, chuntered and moaned at work, played out scenarios of how I will get my revenge in my head. Tonight at Church the vicar read out a prayer that was found on a scrap of paper beside the body of a girl who died at Ravensbruck: God you created us all in your own likeness. We thank you for the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in your world. Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellow feeling and understanding; both by what we have in common and by things in which we differ, so we may come to know you more fully in your creation; for you are Father, Son and Holy Spirit for ever. Amen.  This girl could write such thoughtful words, in such horrendous circumstances yet I have struggled to find compassion for relatively minor wrong doings. Anyway it made me realise I need to try much harder not to give in to anguish and hate, it's not easy and it takes alot of effort but I'm going to try anyway if that girl in Ravensbruck can do it then I have no excuse!

Engagement Card

Going to an engagement party on Saturday so have had to make a card quick. Those little silver confetti words that are scattered around at parties come in handy sometimes for sticking to the bottom, and a bit of corrugated card adds a bit of depth.

Patchwork cards

Finally up to date, well almost, with my photo's. My theme for January is patchwork, all different patchwork cards. I spotted them in another mag but as usual altered the designs slightly. It's a good way of using all my scraps of papers and just using some different shaped punches. I'm really sad that my little group at Marton won't be meeting up again. I'm hoping we can still get together at another venue. I'm looking into some possibilities so will see whether there's any interest. Lots of things are changing work wise and heading for the unknown is scary but may also be exciting too. I know that God has a plan for me so it'll all be OK in the long run. Also enrolled for a Collage course at the Art College today. I'm really looking forward to that. Who knows what exciting creations I'll be producing- I'll keep you posted!