and yet more . . . . .

I haven’t been well for the last few weeks and have been on light duties – this soon leads to mischief as I run out of “light”things to do!

I am a collector of “blue & white” Dutch china (along with a lot of other things) and in my kitchen I have a huge “dresser”, designed by me using units from a certain Swedish flat pack furniture store and built by DH.

I loved the result that we had achieved but hated the supplied handles.  I recently had a brain wave – s0 noteworthy that I thought I should blog it (especially as they don’t happen very often!!).

I found some blue & white clog keyrings in a local store and bought enough so that I could use them as handles.  DH patiently drilled holes in them and I fitted them.

Before

After

Sweet huh?

Another project

I like to visit the second hand shops here – as they say “one man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure”.

On a recent trip to the kringloop (community second hand shop) I found two coal scuttles. Both were covered in grime but I liked their shapes and the fact that they had blue & white china handles (although one was missing off the bigger scuttle).  I also had the sneaking suspicion that underneath all the dirt that they were made from copper.  So I took a chance and bought them and a “believed to be” copper kettle (just for the handle) and got my self some copper polish and set to.

   

Mother’s Day

Made especially for my MIL – I had to use the boy with the tulips stamp (‘cos we live in the land of tulips!).  The daffodils are made using my new flower punch and the centres are made from paper rolled around a cocktail stick. MIL loved it (phew!)

Dutch style

Here are some more cards with a Dutch theme. The first is another of my attempts using parchment and the second is made using some Dutch style wrapping paper.

I wanted this one to give the impression of tiles. I cut the images into squares, rounded the corners and mounted them onto a piece of shiney blue paper which I had embossed (again!) uisng my D'Vine swirls folder. This was then mounted onto a pearly dark blue card.

Another birthday - with a Dutch touch!

Today is my cousin's birthday - so firstly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to her!

As you would expect, I made her birthday card. Ususally I would make her a card with an oriental theme but this year I decided to do something different.

As you know, I have been playing with parchment and I decided to combine this with a Dutch theme.

I have a lovely set of Dutch houses stamps, which I really haven't had the chance to play with. I stamped the house onto the parchment in white ink and took it from there. This is only my second attempt at this technique and I am pleased with the results.

Hollandays!!

It's official - it's holiday time and in typical Dutch fashion, it's raining!!

Today sees the arrival of my Aunt for her annual visit, which makes for a special time for us all.

I always make her a card and I thought I'd share it on the blog. It is very similar to the blue birthday card that I posted last time, but with the sentiment "Happy Hollandays" (instead of holidays).

She hasn't seen her card yet but I am safe in showing it on here as she is currently sitting on a plane!!




















Until the next time - happy crafting!!

and now for some blue

Sometimes I see something and think "that would make a good card". This can happen anywhere, but usually when I am out shopping.

The inspiration for this card came from some wrapping paper. The wrapping paper was in the style of Delft blue tiles. Now I didn't want to just stick a wodge of wrapping paper on the front of a card blank, so I took my circle Sizzix die and cut some circles (clever huh?). I then mounted the wrapping paper circles onto larger circles in dark blue.


Then with my favourite Cuttlebug embossing folder (D'vine Swirls), I embossed a piece of white card.

The greeting was cut in white using my Sizzix alphabet (Cat 'n' Mouse).





The card was assembled using a pearly blue card blank.
Not bad eh?

Until the next time - Happy crafting!Y