Friendly Plastic Scarf Ring

This was made at my lovely craft group meeting on Monday, after some expert demonstrating from our group leader, Karen. She has been showing us how to stamp in friendly plastic and to use molds and cutters to shape them. There may well be a few more examples up here soon, if I can get the camera to behave! What I like about this is that it doesn't look plastic from a distance but is flexible enough to hold the scarf and won't rust or discolour which is fab. Some of the other things I made will never make it on here as they are total disasters - 'lump of toothpaste' has been used to describe one piece of artwork!!

Talking of the group, a group of us ladies meet up 2 or 3 times a month, mainly to do card-making. Most of the time we do our own projects but other times we have Karen show us a new technique. Sometimes (especially around Christmas) we get very little crafting done and we spend a lot of time chatting and drinking tea. I would highly recommend joining a group if there is one close by. Crafters are just the loveliest people, and even though I was terrified about going for the first time they made me so welcome. Now it'd take a lot to keep me away and I've made some lovely friends.

Biscuit

This photo-card was made for my Mum last year to be sent from our beautiful family dog, Biscuit. Sadly Biscuit had to be put to sleep a couple of weeks ago after he had a stroke. Thankfully the end was really quick and he'd been out for a walk that day and had lived each and every day of his 14.5 years with a waggy tail and lots of cuddles. We'll all really miss him, not only the family, but his best-mate Don and all his many friends around the country. He really was the most beautiful dog. I'll miss you Biz. X

Party Favours

My first project post in this blog was to show the post-it note holders I had made using the scalloped square nesties and some beautiful Laura Ashley papers. The picture was pretty rubbish and as I'd given them all away I was pretty stumped. One of the recipients of one of the holders has sent me this picture today (thanks R!). They were really simple and easy to make and something that can easily be customised to the recipients style and tastes. Most of mine were given out to friends at a special afternoon tea for my birthday last year, which reminds me, I must have a think about a little present for this year. Less that 10 days to go...aarrggghhhh....

Stamping in UTEE

Inspired by Sheena Douglas on a show a while ago, this is a a little project I did using Cosmic Shimmer Ultra-Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE) in Malacite Fire. I built up 3 layers of UTTE and then stamped into it using a Clarity Stamp. Clarity Stamps are perfect for this technique as they are resistant to high temperatures and have deeply embossed images that make a great impression into the UTEE without ruining the stamp. Once the UTEE is cool the stamp pops right out without any problems. I then edged the piece in some gold embossing powder by lightly pressing each side into my Versamark ink pad and dusting in the gold powder before heating. Isn't the colour luscious? Love it...

Boxes, boxes and more boxes

My family seem to have an obsession with little boxes, and I am no exception! Here are just a few I made as gift boxes for a jewellery party a while ago. They also worked great as favour boxes on Christmas Day, and I keep a stock in the house for when I forget a birthday and can pop a few chocs inside as a little token gift. Lindor seem to be my faves, usually because I make sure there is one left over for the crafter!

Twisted Easel Card

This was a new type of card for me - a twisted easel. The image of the girl is a Greetings Farm stamp, coloured with Copics and Promarkers. The image has been layered using Nesties labels 1. Not sure where the paper is from. The corners are punched with a Martha Stewart punch. I was actually really pleased with the how the colours came together (finally!) for this card - it took me longer than you think! It was one of those cards that seemed to take ages to get the colours to work together.

More poppies but for a sadder occasion

I used the same stamp along with a Paula Pascual mixed sentiments stamp for this card. Sadly the week I created the card I also needed to give it to a friend. Probably the saddest time to have to give cards, but also probably the most important.

Poppies

After much trial and error - mainly through trying to use the wrong pens (until I'd read again which pens Barbara Gray recommended on the design sheet) - I finally managed to make a decent card using the poppy stamp. This was one of the monthly stamps from the Clarity Stamp New Design Club, added to with some freehand drawing and colouring. Not sure I've ever seen poppies this colour but never mind. I used the Adirondack inkpad in Wild Plum. As a nature lover, the words of WH Davies really speak to me. There should always be time to stand and stare!