First attempt at needle felting!

Hello everyone :o)

So... I'm attempting a new hobby!  I've wanted to try needle felting for ages and finally had a go, using a kit I bought from Felt Hoppy on Etsy.

He's by no means perfect, but he's my very first attempt, so I'm quite pleased with him really.  Ears are my nemesis though, just can't get them right!  And the amount of times I've stabbed myself with that blimmin' barbed needle.... ouch!!  Need to get myself a good book and practice lots I think.

Hope you like him... thanks for popping in :o)

Penguin baubles!

Hello :o)

I did say I might show some knitted projects occasionally, so here goes... these little penguin baubles are this year's teachers' gifts.

They're definitely not perfect, but they were fun to knit... not so much fun to sew up!  I'd forgotten just how much I hate stitching knitted things together!  The pattern was in Let's Knit magazine, and the only thing I did differently was adding ribbon loops instead of crochet chains... I'm yet to try crochet, but hopefully I'll have a go at that soon.

I've been wrapping presents all day, something else I'm not too keen on... ugh, it just seems never ending!  Next year I MUST be more organised!  Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Little Miss Muffet Challenges - make it mini

Hello everyone :o)

I haven't had chance to blog much over the last few days, as Morgan's birthday has kept us busy... I think he had fun anyway.

Here's my slightly late creation for our current challenge at Little Miss Muffet, where we'd like to see you 'make it mini'.  I've made a little gift card holder... I'm going to save this for my Grandma's birthday, which isn't until December - that's very organised for me!

The gift card pocket inside...

I cut the gift card holder on my Cameo, but can't seem to attach the Silhouette cut file in InLinkz... it's a Lori Whitlock file, ID#60412.

I'm entering this for the following challenges
Simon Says - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - oh how cute
Crafting with Dragonflies - gift card holder
Delightful - cute & cuddly

Off for a little commenting catch up... hope you have a lovely evening :o)

InLinkz.com

Furry Friends book card - Sugar Nellie DT

Hello everyone :o)

I've made a book card for today's Sugar Nellie DT card... haven't made one of these for ages, and I'd forgotten how fiddly they are, and how awkward it is to get decent photos of them!  I really like them though... great for putting little gifts in.

Love this cat image, I think it might be my favourite of the Furry Friends... I'm quite likely to change my mind next time I colour one though!

I'm entering my card for the following challenges
Bunny Zoe's - lace
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - dogs & cats
Seize the Birthday - sweet treats
Simon Says - tag it (tags inside)
Paper Shelter - ribbon, twine, and/or floss
The ABC Challenge - tic, tac, toe (flowers, lace, dies/ punches)

Off for a little catch up with your blogs... hope you have a lovely evening :o)

InLinkz.com

Teachers gifts - clipboards

Hello everyone :o)

I've sent the teachers gifts into school today, so I thought I'd show them here... I almost lost the will to live while making them though!  Actually 3 of them came together fairly easily, and the last one just wouldn't play nicely... I might have said a naughty word or two.

They're quite simply decorated, as I wanted them to be usable without too many lumpy bits.

I've used mostly older papers, as I haven't bought much in 12x12 for a while... they started as plain MDF boards that I found on Amazon HERE.  This was much easier than last year's attempts, because I didn't have to work around a clip... I used mod podge to adhere the papers, left that to dry, then added borders and stamped the names, then another coat of mod podge to seal them.  Then I just had to hot glue the clips into place at the back.  Which all sounds very simple, but for some reason the papers on the last one kept bubbling up and lifting... I ruined two boards making that one!

I went on Dex's class trip today, which was very silly of me really as there's still so much to do, and we go away on Saturday!  But he looked so hopeful when he asked me, I just couldn't resist... So we've been on a 'travel' themed trip - a walk, then bus trip, then a tram, then a train, then a vintage open-topped bus that took us to the transport museum... all good fun, but SO very hot today, so I'm a bit limp now!

Thanks for popping in... hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Easter Baby Quack - DigiStamp Boutique DT

Hello everyone :o)

I've used the very cute Easter Baby Quack image for today's DigiStamp Boutique DT creation... not a card today!  I must admit, I'm really not happy with this... there are so many things I wish I'd done differently!  Oh well, the image is still gorgeous...

... and the back

Items Used

Digi stamp - Easter Baby Quack - DigiStamp Boutique

Colouring - copics

Lori Whitlock Easter Egg Basket ID #57254 - cut on the Cameo

Lori Whitlock Tag ID #20378 - cut on the Cameo

Papers - Doodlebug Springtime - Craft Mojo

Seam Binding - Craft Mojo

Dex has got a tummy bug - I didn't think he looked quite right this morning, but he went to school... when I picked him up he looked all washed out, and said he felt sick.  He took himself off to bed when we got back and fell asleep for an hour... I suspect he'll be spending the day at home tomorrow!

Hope you all have a lovely evening :o)

Gift card holders

Hello everyone :o)

I meant to make something new today, but we took the boys to see Frozen instead... we all loved it!  And then we were very naughty and got KFC, and I don't feel like making anything now lol.  So I thought I'd show one of the creations I didn't get round to blogging before Christmas...

I popped a little pocket on the back of these large tags, and used them as gift card holders - I'm always looking for nice ways to give money and gift cards, and I'm looking forward to having more options when the Cameo arrives!

Items Used

White linen card - Papermill Direct

Tag die - old one from Little Claire

Stitched border die - MFT Dienamics Blueprints 1

Memory Box Precious Stockings die

Cuttlebug embossing folders

Ric rac ribbon & pearls from my stash

Hopefully I'll be back with a new creation tomorrow... not sure what though!  Hope you all have a lovely evening :o)

Teachers gift bags

Hello again... thanks so much to everyone who commented earlier - I went ahead and made my little batch of pudding cards, and I've got a few others done today too... getting there slowly!

Here are the gift bags I made for the boys to give to their teachers... 

They're not perfect, but for a first attempt I was fairly happy with them.  I used a template from My Time Made Easy, which would have been a lot easier with a machine to cut them on, but I never got the SCAL software working again on the Cricut after we got a new laptop.  So the Cricut has been boxed up and put in the loft for now... I quite fancy a Silhouette, but I don't suppose I really need one, and I'd probably end up not using that either!

Items Used

Template - Grab Bag - My Time Made Easy

Papers - Kraft Christmas & Woodland Wishes - LOTV

Sentiment tag stamps - LOTV (the blank tag from the Christmas set)

Brown flower - Prima Cabaletta Fall - MCH

Red flower - Bo Bunny Plum Purple Daisies - MCH

Pearls & velcro dots (to fasten) from my stash

I'm entering my bags for the following challenges
Papertake Weekly - Christmas card or project
Craft Your Passion - Christmas anything but a card
Crafting for all Seasons - anything Christmas but a card
Crafting by Designs - wrap it up
LOTV Monthly - anything but a card
(used LOTV papers & tag stamps - hope that's ok)

I'll be round for a little commenting catch up later... Hope you all have a lovely evening :o)

Another teacher's gift...

Hello everyone :o)

This is another of the gifts I made for Dex's teacher and his teaching assistant... I've never altered clipboards before and I'm not sure if I'll ever be doing it again lol!  Although I do quite fancy one for myself now!  You really would not believe the mess I got in with Mod Podge though... I DO NOT like that stuff!

I've not added too much detail, because I wanted them to be usable... they do look prettier in 'real life' though.

Items Used

Plain clipboards - pack of 5 from Amazon

Papers - old K&Co ones

MFT dienamics By The Letters dies

MFT dienamics border die

Mod Podge... ugh!

Off for a little commenting catch up... Hope you all have a lovely evening :o)

Thank You Monkey - DigiStamp Boutique DT

Hello everyone :o)  Sorry I'm a bit quiet at the moment... it's a bit busy here as it's the last week of school, and I tend to slow down when it's hot too, so this is how it'll be on my blog through the school hols probably!

It's my day to post over on the DigiStamp Boutique blog today, and I've made a gift card holder for Dexter's teacher... well I made 3 altogether - 1 for Dex's teacher, 1 for his teaching assistant, and 1 for Morgan's teacher, but I won't bore you with pics of them all!

Here's the gift card holder and the tag that slides inside (holding a Starbucks gift card)...

And this is what it looks like with the tag inside - it does slide all the way in, but I left it poking out a bit for the photo...

If you'd like to have a go at one of these yourself, you can find a fab tutorial over on the lovely Vixx's blog.

Items Used

Digi stamps- NEW Thank You Monkey - DigiStamp Boutique

Coffee Break (on tag) - DigiStamp Boutique 

Colouring - copics

Papers - Echo Park Sweet Girl - MCH

Impression Obsession Mini Rectangle Tags dies - MCH

Viva Decor Pearl Pen in Light Green - MCH

Stampin' Up tab punch

Gems & twine from my stash

I'm entering my card for the following challenges
Allsorts - fur & feathers
Craft Your Passion - thank you
Creative Creations - for you teacher

Still loads to do, but hopefully I'll be around later for a bit of a catch up with your blogs... Hope you all have a lovely evening :o)

Teachers gifts...

Here I go again, over complicating things for myself!

I wasn't planning to make anything for the teachers gifts this year - I've just bought a few little things... and then I decided to make gift boxes to put them in... and then while I was making the boxes I spotted some lovely chunky Prima pegs, and thought I'd make some little fridge magnet clip type things as an extra gift.  So that was today gone, when I should really have been finishing my cards - yes, I've still got a few to make!

Gift boxes (all the same)

For the female teacher & teaching assistant

Just to show where I've added the magnets

For the male teachers

Items Used

Cream linen card (for the boxes) - Papermill Direct

Papers - Dovecraft 'Let It Snow'

Twill ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons

Martha Stewart snowflake punch

Stampin' Up tag punch

Pearls from stash

Pegs - Prima Canvas Wood Clips, Romance Novel - MCH

Resin flowers - MCH

MME Lost & Found 2 Everywhere Brads - MCH

Magnets - First4Magnets

I'm entering my creations for the following challenges

Simon Says - Merry Christmas (the box)

Creative Inspirations - anything goes

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - Merry Christmas

Divas by Design - anything goes

Creative Inspirations Paint - Christmas gifts

Unstampabelles - Christmas

We've been to watch Dex in the reception Christmas sing-along 'thing' today... aww, it was SO sweet, and they all did so well :o)  They did it outside though, with the kids in a little covered area in the yard, and the parents going slightly blue with the cold lol... oh, and one of the little ones actually fell asleep while they were singing - bless, he looked so cute slumped over with his thumb in!

Off for a little catch up with some of your blogs, and then I need to go back in the craft room later... seen as I've wasted the day on boxes and singing sessions lol... Hope you all have a lovely evening :o)

Bella with Presents - The Stamp Basket DT

I have my DT card for The Stamp Basket blog to show you today, and it's also my card for a lovely friend who's celebrating a special birthday... she banned me from putting her age on the card though lol!  I decided to make a book card, as I wanted a little space for a pressie...

Sorry, there are quite a few photos!

The perfect space for a little package of rubber stamps :o)

Items available from The Stamp Basket

Wild Rose Studio - Bella with Presents stamp

Prima - Meadowlark papers

Prima - Essential petals 'Meadowlark'

Seam binding - chalk white (dyed with lavender memento ink)

Berisfords super sheer white ribbon

Lilac button

The Hobby House - pearls and 8mm pearl brad

I've coloured lovely Bella with promarkers and flexmarkers, adding my little Viva pearl dots around her, and some grass using Prisma pencils.  The sentiments - inside and out - are LOTV, and I stamped a flourish, by Eco Green, on the tag in 'lulu lavender' memento ink.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Flutterby Wednesdays - friendship (there are butterflies on the image, hope that's ok!)
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - anything goes
• Forever Friends - anything goes
• Creative Stamp Friends - special card shape
• Pile It On - cuddly critters (are elephants cuddly?!)
• Corrosive Challenges - cute as a button
• Divas by Design - anything goes

Rush, rush, rush again!  Few more things to do, and then I should get some time to sit and catch up with some of your blogs... Hope you've had a lovely day :o)

Mother's Day book card

So... the perfect time to try making a book card for the first time is when you've left it right until the last minute to make your Mother's Day card, right?  Well it is in my world lol...

As usual, I put off trying one of these because I thought it'd be really hard to do, and it's really not - a bit fiddly, but otherwise fine.  I've forgotten to find the tutorial I watched first though, so I'll link up to that later.

**Edit - here's the tutorial I followed, there's also a link to the matching video tutorial if you find it easier that way**

I've used one of the gorgeous new images from the Easter Collection 2 from DigiStamp Boutique - you could win this set if you play along with my Waste Not Wednesdays challenge this week.  I've coloured this cute bunny with promarkers and flexmarkers.  The papers are 'cute as a button' from Raspberry Rd, printed onto linen card and inked with 'new sprout' memento ink.  The sentiments on the front and on the tag inside are both from the Mother's Day Set from DigiStamp Boutique.  I used the MS scallop dot punch on the inside panels - I would've liked to have used the doily punch but it just chews up linen card and quite a few other things unfortunately!  Flowers are a mix of stash and Wild Orchid Crafts, ribbons from my stash - the pink one on the front is lovely soft velvet :o)

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Totally Gorjuss - spring
• One Stitch at a Time - girly
• Moving Along With The Times - special lady
• Colour Create - pink, blue, sage & white/ cream (not sure if my green is quite right so please delete me if not!)
• Delightful Challenges - someone special
• Simon Says Stamp - bit o' green
• I Love Promarkers - anything goes
• My Mum's Craft Shop - mum's the word
• Papertake Weekly - one for the girls... or mum

Hope all you mums have had a lovely day being spoilt... Huge hugs to all those who need them today, I know it's not an easy day for some.  My main present (the Magnolia spring club stamps) obviously didn't arrive as they've not even started sending them out yet, but I did get some tulips and chocs and a lovely card, and we've spent a few hours at my mum's so it's been nice.  Hope you're having a good evening :o)