Embroidery- felt and fabric hearts

Hi there. Welcome!

This month I have been rather crafty, but no tag as yet.

I decided to give gifts to the teachers, assistants etc at O's nursery, as he is leaving to start big school. There were 12 gifts that I needed. I did not have money to go out and buy, so decided to explore what stash I had in my craft room.
My husband affectionately calls my hoarding "collecting", and it has paid off. I found felt and fabric, ribbons, buttons and beads, all waiting patiently for their turn.......
I looked through my collection of dies and settles on My Favourite Things heart. I cut out double in each fabric and then looked at the flowers etc that I had made previously.

This is what I ended up with:

Each heart was made with the recipient in mind. O and I chatted about each person and we tried to make things that he associated with that person.

I really had such fun making these. It kept my hands busy while I watched TV, so I did not feel like snacking.....

A few more pics, cause I am really happy with the way they turned out!

I will post the card I made for the nursery on a separate post.

Take care and happy crafting.

Xoxo

12 Tags of 2014 - June

I hope all the US readers had a great 4th of July. I have had a busy month, starting to prepare everything for O to start school.

He had his home visit with the teachers, which he loved and he will be visiting the school soon.

Better late than never to post June's tag. This month I had made my tag before seeing what Tim Holtz had done. Not that it matters, as I have just been doing my own thing. I think July will have to be inspired by Tim's tag.

Anyway, back to June.

I have been wanting to use the Tim Holtz movers and shapers "journey" Sizzix die (657203) for a while. I die cut it on printed card stock and then adhered it to my tag (still using the same Tim Holtz Sizzix tag from previous posts).

I then coloured it with B34 copics marker and used crackle medium over it.

The bicycle is Spellbinders (IN023) cut on cream pearl card. I then coloured different parts with my copics - B34; YG41;R37 and silver

The tree is Memory box cut from Kraft card and the grass is My Favourite Things die- namics.

The flowers and butterflies were from tiny punches I have had for years. I shaped the flowers using an embossing ball stick and piece of foam. Tiny pearls were used for the centres. The butterflies were cut from confetti vellumn.

Stickles star dust was used on the leaves of the tree and some elements on the floral card stock.

Twine was used just to Finish it off......

Hope you like my tag. Have a crafty weekend and hope to see you soon.

12 Tags of 2014 - May

Hi there and thanks for stopping by. 

This month's tag has been inspired by the many I have seen on Pinterest. Spring is in the air, and what better way to celebrate, than pay homage to the cheerful and beautiful birds that are perking up my spirits with their songs.

This is a subdued interpretation of spring, no bold and vibrant colours - just waking from the winter and hints of colour.

The tag was embossed with the Sizzix Birdcages #2- I used the de- bossed side.

The birds in the cages were coloured in with my copics- BV00, BG32,RV32 and V12. I then used crackle glaze on them just to add some interest.

The bird cage is a Marianne Designs die, LR0147, cut on textured cream card stock. I added some sparkle with Crafters Companion Spray and Sparkle ( I really LOVE this product)!

Once the cage was dried, I used the crackle medium on the base and the top of the cage. 

3 feathers were cut from glitter card, using the My Favourite things "feather and arrows" die. These were stuck flat and the cage was mounted using foam tape.

The "washi" tape was handmade from Madeline Floyd/ Penny Kennedy Birds tissue paper.

The tag was then distressed using the memory makers distressing tool, and edged with Oasis Green versa magic chalk ink.

Bakers twine and a patterned button complete the tag.

I love the softness of the tag, and the almost lazy simplicity........

Close-up of the crackle glaze- I had forgotten how much fun it is to use! 

Take care and hope you have fun with your tag creations.....

12 Tags of 2014 - April

Hi there - thanks for stopping by.

Today I am posting my April tag - I wanted to do something more masculine. I really battle when it comes to "male" cards etc. I had my eye on the Tim Holtz, Sizzix Weathered clock for a while. My wonderful SIL sent me an Amazon voucher for my birthday and I had so much fun spending it!

This month I also played around with backgrounds. Firstly I made a mask using acetate and the Tim Holtz weathered clock.  Once sprayed with re-positionable glue, I placed it on my tag. 

I started with The Ranger Adirondack colour washes - Butterscotch and Espresso and then used the Tsukineko Java Walnut ink. Before the inks were dry, I blotted them with a tissue and it looked a little like leather.
Once those were dry and the mask removed, I sprayed the tag with Perfect pearls mists in forever red, forever blue and forever green.
The Umbrella man is also a Tim Holtz die (cut from brown textured card stock and mounted on foam tape). Here again, I made masks with Tim Holtz Gadget gears and then spritzed a gold shimmer mist. I unfortunately don't have a brand for this.
The leaves are all Marianne Designs, cut in Matt gold card stock and then spritzed with the perfect Pearl mists again (forever red and forever green). The Bee embellishment is from my stash.

The tab at the top is from My Favourite Things - mini tabs foursome, cut in craft card stock. The wording is stamped using the "Dear Lizzy" word stamps (the ones that look like dates stamps and you turn the dials until you get the phrase you want......gosh, if I could only find the proper name for them......). This is then finished off with two bronze brads. The tag was distressed using my making memories distresser.

I am feeling a bird theme for the next tag - Just seen a lovely one on Tim Holtz's blog....

Take care and thanks for joining me.

12 tags of 2014 - March

1st of May - looks like a good time to post March's tag........I must be the worlds worst blogger, hence my hoards of follwers...hee hee hee. For those who do read my blog and follow me, thanks for sticking with me xoxox

I had SO MUCH FUN creating March's tag. You know how sometimes things just fall into place?
Well....ta dah

 

The background was made using the Ranger Dylusions inks in Lemon zest, Bubblegum pink and Vibrant Turquoise. Once dried I used an iridescent spray and then the Crafters Companion Sparkle spray

 

The doll is a 2014 Julie Nutting Prima doll called Mindy. I stamped her with versafine in black ink onto card stock and paper from an old book. She was coloured in with my copics.

The dies used were My Favourite Things - Eiffel Tower and mini rolled roses.

The fence is Memory Box Estate fence cut using craft paper. The two stamps are Script from Nikki Zipp and Stampin up - Doodle this.

 

I think she is my favourite so far - just love her.

 

April is complete also and hope to post that in a few days.......when you are by yourself with a 2yr and 4yr old, finding a moment to blog is a little difficult for me.

 

Thanks for stopping by and I would love to hear your comments.

 

Take care

12 tags of 2014 - February

I know, I know....mid April already! Tag was made a while back, but I have just not had time to post it.

Supplies used:

Paper from my stash

Stamp is Stampingbella " Lucille"

Hearts are Hero Arts "heart sprinkles"

Flower is the loopy bloom from MFT, cut in canvas

Tab is also from MFT and used the Provo craft Circa 18 pts 'dial' stamp. I have no clue what these type of stamps are called, but you move the round discs till you have the letter you want.....being very DUH here......

Heart banner from La la land

Copic markers to colour her in

Gelly roll pens for some highlighting

Dylusions spray for the heart banner, then I over sprayed with a pearlescent finish ( also unknown from my stash.....unmarked bottle...)

Paper clip also from my stash

To finish off, some gold sequins and a gold heart from fab little Chinese shop in Cape Town......

Hope you like it AND surprise, surprise - March is complete and I will post tomorrow

Take care all and feel free to leave a comment

BTW - I really need to sort out a light box.....the photo was taken perched on O's bedroom window sill

Card making - Christmas tri-fold card order

I was asked to make a Christmas card by an extended member of our family. It was for their daughter and her Husband, who just happens to be my Hubby's uncle.

Shirley loves bling and I wanted a feminine touch, but not over the top.

The letter dies are MFT and the Christmas tree is Memory box. The snowflake is also from MFT.

The letters and snowflake were cut from glitter paper. The paper is from my stash- and I sprayed the Crafters Companion glitter spray over them for the added sparkle that I feel Christmas demands.

The patterned paper was then edged in silver marker just to help make it pop. The stamp sentiment was MFT and stamped in silver ink. The base for the sentiment is a Spelbinders die.

I really enjoyed making this card - I googled the instructions after seeing so many on the Splitcoasters gallery that I view daily! It's great for inspiration and there are so many talented card makers and paper crafters out there.

Two more pics of the card, but please excuse the quality of the photo's. Now that I am slowly finding out what you can do on an iPad, I hope to become a little more professional.

That's all for now folks. Planning to try one of those 3d card-in-a-box soon.

BTW: today is the first day of Lent. I have given up alcohol and snacking for the next 40 days. It's gonna be hard not to nibble my way through the day, but my figure may see the benefits!

Take care x

12 tags of 2014 - January

Yay, one tag complete!

The tag I am using has been cut from the Tim Holtz Sizzix "Tag and bookplate" onto thick card stock.
I clear embossed the background - stamp from Stamping Up! and then spritzed a shimmer mist over, which has a vintage walnut and purple shimmer.

The barcode stamp is "stamped and coded" from Autumn Leaves and ink was Satin Rose.

The 3 roses are My Favourite Things dies "royal rose" and "rolled rose" medium size. The paper for the roses was spritzed with the glimmer mist before die cutting.

I think the flourish is a Magnolia die, but not too sure. I definitely need to do some catalogue work on my dies!

The ribbon is from my stash and I used 3 different colours.

February is underway, the image is stamped and coloured, however I am at a loss of what to do next.

Hope you like my tag- any comments welcome. I often look at something I am working on, and think what little tweek would have made it awesome! LOL

Must admit that I am loving being back in my little craft haven.

Take care and keep crafting........

Cake decorating - Hello Kitty 2nd birthday for V

Our little Princess turned 2 in January. She was very clear in her Diva voice that she wanted a Hello Kitty party......(however, I do suspect that her brother may have helped her decide)!

The various components to make up the cake. The stars are 4 shades of pink. Unfortunately, I could not match the super-doper pink that I wanted, but had to use what I had on hand.

 

I could not remember where I had put the floral tape for the wires until AFTER I had attached the stars! It looked ok in the end - as long as you do not look too closely.....

 

The cake done - shew............

         loving the attention  action shot

 

The birthday girl

 

 

My first tag for January is complete so will post later this week and I have a card order that I made for Christmas.

 

 

Take care.

 

 

A belated new years resolution.....

I have been in a tunnel....a long and dark one! Sigh....however, there is some light at the end of it now.
The move 10 months ago has really hit hard - my family and friends so far away, a cold, dismal winter and my hubby working away MOST of the time. There has been no will to create beyond the forced few cards.

3 weeks ago my hubby and I decided that I should return to gym...well the pool at least. I have also downloaded a fitness app to my ipad and now on a focused mission to get back to the old me....(and that is literally as 42 is but 3 weeks away...).

I have met some really great gals - Sarah, Kate, Jenny and Alison. Sarah and Kate are twins and enjoy crafting like I do; Jen (from the US) is the most inspirational and courageous gal I have met in ages and Alison is a fellow Saffer (South African) with the MOST ADORABLE baby girl.

It is truly amazing how God works - both Sarah and Jen have sons at the same school as O, and thanks to a mutual friend of Jen, I met Alison. We all have bits and pieces in common and thanks to this, I am beginning to feel whole again.

OK - so enough of my rambling.
My belated new years resolution - .........I am going to attempt to post something handmade once a week at least. I hope that this is the push I need to get me into the groove, and off the couch.

Sarah and Kate are trying to teach me how to crochet. Friends back in SA did show me a bit, but the mist has clouded those instructions. I was going to proudly post a pic of my first attempt, but the look of horror on my hubby's face deterred me. However, I will get it right somehow and hope that one of my future posts will include a crochet item.

I also want to make 12 tags of 2014 - if you are a Tim Holtz fan, you know what I mean. I will have to make Jan and Feb quickly and will post those as soon as I am done.

V celebrated her 2nd birthday in Jan and sweetly asked me (in her DIVA way) for a Hello Kitty party. I will post some pics of her cake which was such fun to make. O and V have decided that I have to have a princess party for my birthday, so I guess a princess cake will be made for them to enjoy.

Anyway....hope I have not bored you too much with all these thoughts and promises and hope to have something creative in the next few days to share.

Take care

DIY - Re-purpose spice racks

This is a post that I started in summer last year........anyway better late than never!!

Hi there! Welcome to my blog. On Thursday O went back to school and Hubby was at home to look after V. I got a bee in my bonnet and decided to "up-cycle" two wooden spice racks that I have had for years.

BEFORE.......

 

Luckily the weather was lovely, so the base coat and paint took no time to dry.

Sanded vs original.....

Base coat on

A couple of coats later....

Backing board Hubby cut for me from MDF

O on hand after school to help paint.....check out that concentration!

Left one "distressed|"

Backing boards are a beautiful shade of vibrant pink, but you can't see the stunning colour in the light....

Varnised and finally drying

Distressed, varnished and drying. Indoors as it was now pouring with rain.....got to love the UK weather

 

Ta da!

Have to hang them with picture wire as I am not allowed to drill into the walls...

Punch storage looking so much prettier....and the punches no longer fall out the back.

Just LOVE the pop of colour

And Finally..........These bird cages were on sale at a local shop and were crying out to store my twine!

Now, just need to find a spot to put them...hee...hee