Dream Valley Challenges- Getting Ready for Christmas

It's November already, which means that some of us are starting our Christmas preparations. And Dream Valley are helping us to get into the Christmas spirit with a "Getting Ready for Christmas" challenge.

 

I found these lovely white hearts in Hobbycraft and thought they would make some delightful Christmas tree decorations. I had a rummage through my jewellery making stash and put aside a few bits I thought would go nicely with the red roses. After glue-gunning, ribbon and Stickles, I have some Christmas tree decorations completed. (My goodness, note it in the diary......an idea has been formed AND followed through until completion!!!!!)

 

So.....ready, set, go! It's only 7 and a half weeks until Christmas!

 

Sarah Hurley Guest Designer - iPhone Cover Inserts

Today, I am lucky enough to be back as guest designer for Sarah Hurley and thought I'd make something different. My beloved iPhone 5 has a clear cover and I decided that my existing paper insert needed changed. And I decided that some nice bright pink and teal was in order! These papers are from Sarah's A Few of My Favourite Things kits, as are the rose, flower and leaves.

 

To start with, I measured clear plastic part of my cover. For my iPhone 5 cover, this was 5.9cm wide and 12.4cm long.

I cut my chosen paper to these measurements and rounded each corner with my corner punch:

I'm a bit of a control freak, so I placed the paper inside the cover to check the fit. Whilst it was there, I marked the hole for the camera. Then, I removed it and cut out the hole with a craft knife:

I then checked the fit again and cut a tiny bit extra out.

Then the fun can begin and you can decorate however you like. BUT definitely keep it flat and with not too many layers, otherwise the cover won't fit the phone properly (I tried with a lovely bit of daisy ribbon, but it was too thick!). As you can see, I opted for a few paper layers, some stamped flowers/leaves and Stickles in Silver and Stardust to complete them.

 

Supplies:

Papers, flowers and leaves - My Favourite Things Kit

Sentiments - Doodle Dolls Dream A Little Dream and Doodle Doll Princess Girl

Stickles - Stardust and Silver

Happy crafting!

Susie x

 

 

Dream Valley- No Designer Paper

Hello, peeps! Hope you're all fine and dandy on this wet and miserable Sunday.

Over at Dream Valley this fortnight, our challenge is No Designer Paper. At first, I made the card for my best friend's birthday. I stamped the circle background using the Inkylicious Tiny Text and Tumbled Glass Distress Ink - I adore this colour! I then stamped the Inkylicious Make a Wish in black over the text and added Silver and Stardust Stickles. The white fishtail background has been embossed and matted onto silver card. There's a little bit of twine been added and the sentiment is from Clearly Besotted. I followed the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

I then had a bit of fun sewing. Haven't had time to just sew and create and test for a while but I loved doing these. The smaller one is perfect size for an iPod (although just a touch too small for an iPhone, so I'll be making the next one slightly larger) and the larger one is big enough for my phone, cards, change, lipgloss and a few other items - it'll be great for the gym so that those items don't get lost in the depths of my bag! I've added an inner pocket to each and a keyring clasp - useful for clipping to a large bag or onto a zip, or whatever. I'm going to enjoy making a few of these in some of the fabrics I have. Just need more bias binding and zips. Oh, and I decided to add a bow to the smaller one, so it now looks like this:

 

So, what will you create for Dream Valley this challenge?

 

It's Christmas at Dream Valley!

Happy Sunday, folks! I've had a weekend of Christmas wrapping;0), writing cards to those I need to and organising a donation instead for those I don't, working on my last orders of 2013, making a few cards as part of teacher gifts, Louise has been collecting with Rotakids, Buddy (the dog) has been recovering from that operation (!) and it's been a pretty good weekend....busy, productive, fun and I've got some crafting done too!

And, at Dream Valley, we are celebrating the Chrimbo season with some fantastic prizes and lovely DT creations! (Incidentally, I had to correct the autocorrect that had changed Chrimbo to acrimony!!!) I decided that I would make another heart to go alongside the one I made last year. The heart is from Dunelm mills and has had some ribbon threaded around the outside of it. I've glued a scrap of artificial green stuff, some red roses and pom poms and I have made a layered white bow. I have also made a beaded circle for the centre of the bow, which uses my favourite teal colour with Christmas red. The two hearts look lovely together and it's nice to have something from last year and added to it for this year......for next year, I rather fancy a LARGER white heart to hang with them.....I'll see if I can buy and start it this year, while I think about it as I'll never remember, or have time next year!!

What Christmas creation will you make for us at Dream Valley and what would you lke to win?

 

Dream. Valley DT - Anything But A Card

Oops, forgot to do my post! Hope I don't get the sack, lol!! We had the most amazing time in London with so many wonderful memories made. Highlights were: Christmas market and merry-go-round at South Bank, Harry Potter studios, The Shard, Giraffe restaurant, Harrods, speaking to a policeman with a huge gun opposite the Houses of Parliament, taxi drivers, hotel and staff in most places:0) FABULOUS!!!!!

Anyway, I made this necklace to go with my teal dress. It started off with just the long cluster, then I decided to try out another layer. (I remember that I loved, and inherited, the most beautiful 3 tier necklace from my gran, so this was inspired by that, although that necklace was much shorter.) The teal beads at the top are in line with the neck line of my dress and the shorter cluster drops from there. I have used belcher chain for each layer, some silver pendants upcycled from......something, small teal beads from Hobbycraft and the large teal and clear tear drop beads have been upcycled from old necklaces, which I loved. I still haven't decided whether I prefer it like this or with just the long cluster.......I have simple tastes and can't decide if the two layers is ok or too much! Answers on a postcard, or in a comment, please!!

 

Folded Flower Embellishment - Dream Valley DT

Well folks, it's time for another challenge at Dream Valley and this time, we want you to show us your Fancy Folds! Now, in the past, I have made a lovely little 3d handbag, but wanted to stretch myself and try something different. I tried a spinner card but couldn't work out how the recipient would display it......I wanted to sew a fabric wallet, but time was way too short.....I've seen a fab upright z fold card and a tent fold card that I'd like to try......but then I saw this folded flower and knew that I had time to make it AND I will be able to use it on one of the bags I will make.

So, I have used red felt, white material (an old school blouse), button, twine and my hot glue gun. I plan to decorate a bag with it.

What will you make for our Fancy Folds challenge? I can't wait to see.

Susie x